5.

1 THE NUCLEUS OF AN ATOM

5 .1.1 The composition of the nucleus
1. Atomc Mode has a. whch conssts of ( p) and
..(n) wth ..( e) revovng around the nuceus
ke the panet revovng around the Sun.
2. A proton has a positive charge whereas an electron has a ..
chargeve.
5.1.2 Nuclide
1. A nucde s .
2 An atom of an eement s represented by ts symbo as above.
A s for ..number Z s for .. number and X s for
element
5.1. !sotopes
1. What t meant by the sotopes ?
Isotopes are .. of the. element with the same
number of . but diferent number of .
2. For exampe;
a)Carbon : carbon -12
12
6
C , carbon -14
14
6
C,

b)Hydrogen: deuterum
2
1
H , trtum
3
1
H ,..
X
A
Z
CHAPTER 5: RADIOACTIVITY
Physics Module Form 5
E"e#cise 5.1
1. A nuceus contans protons and neutrons. Whch of these partces
experences an eectrostatc force ? ..
2. God (Au ) has 79 protons and 118 neutrons. Wrte the symbo for
ths nucde
3. An sotope of ntrogen can be represented by (
15
7
N ). How many of the
foowng partces does t have ?
a) protons : , neutrons :. , eectrons :

5.2 $A%!OACT!&E %ECA'

5.2.1 $(dio(cti)it*
1. What s meant by the radoactvty ?
2. The process s sad to be spontaneous because
-It is not infuenced b an phsical factors such as temperature, pressure,
time , etc
3. The emsson of radoactve rays s random means that :
a) emission occurs at irre!ular intervals
b) emission does not occur at the same rate
+. %escrbe what happens to an atom when t undergoes radoactve decay.
2
Physics Module Form 5
"hen a radioactive nucleus decas, its nucleus brea#s up, emits an alpha
particle or beta particle and ener!, and form a new atoms of a diferent
element
5.2.2 Ch(#(cte#istics of the th#ee t*pes of $(dio(cti)e Emissions
Radoactve
emssons
Apha partces Beta partces Gamma rays
Symbo
Nature

Eectron
Charge +2 eectrc charges
Speed Speed of ght
Energy $or a particular source,
all particle are emitted
with the same %&
$or a particular source
- particle emitted
have various %&
N
In an
eectrc
ed
Bends to postve
pate
In
magnetc
ed
Bends a tte showng
that t has a bg mass.
Drecton of the bend
ndcates that t s
postvey charges
'end a lot showin!
that it has a small
mass. (irection of the
bend indicates that it
is positivel char!ed
(oes not bend
showin! that it is
neutral.
Ionsng
power
Weakest
Penetratn
g power
Intermedate
Stopped
by
A thn sheet of paper
Range n ) few ) few A few
3
Physics Module Form 5
ar
AL,HA %ECA'
1.

-ETA %ECA'
2.
Exampe:

GAMMA DECAY
Exampe:
4
X R + He
A - 4
Z - 2
4
2
X R + e + eer!y
A
Z + 1
"
-1
e# eleme$ % - &'r$icle
e# eleme$ ( - &'r$icle
X X + ) + eer!y
A
Z
"
"
eleme$ eleme$
hi!h$ eer!y lo# eer!y ) - r'y
A
Z
Po P* + He
+2
4
2

21"
+4
,r Y + e
90

"
-1
-"
3+


Physics Module Form 5
3. The equaton beow represents a nucear reacton. What s the vaue of
P,O,R,S,T and U.
H
2
1
+ H
,
1
n
1
"
+ He
4
.
+ energy
P : ___________________ O : __________________________
Th
234
S
Pa
$
-1
+ e
"
1

R : ___________________ S : __________________________
Pb
214
+2
Bi
T
U
+ e
"
1
+ )
T : ___________________ U : __________________________
4. Show n the dagram beow how / and are ahected n

() eectrc ed .
() and magnetc ed. |3 M|

5
Posi$i.e &l'$e /+0
1e!'$i.e &l'$e /-0
R'dio'c$i.e source







M'!e$ic 2ield i$o $he
&'&er
R'dio'c$i.e source
Physics Module Form 5
5.2.+ $(dio(cti)e %etecto#s
No Radoactve
emsson
Detector Reason
1. Beta and gamma. Photographc Fms Cannot penetrate
throu!h the metal
2. )lpha and beta God Leaf Eectroscopes Strong onsng power
3. Apha, beta and
gamma
Coud Chambers *rac#s of alpha thic#s
and strai!ht.
'eta + thin and twist
,amma + thinner than
beta.
4.
Apha s postve
charge , unke charge
are attracted n a strong
eectrc ed between
the two eectrodes.
5. Apha, beta and
gamma
Geger - Muer Tube ( G.M
Tube )
*he e-plosure of radiation
over one wee# -),. tube
connected to the scaler.
.inimum intensit of a
radiation.-),. tube
connected to a ratemeter
6.
5.2.5 H(lf 0 Life
1h(t is h(lf life2
6
Physics Module Form 5
E"(mple 3
Pa takes 20.8 hours to shrnks from 80 g to 5 g. How many haf -ves are
there?
E"e#cise
1. A radoactve of gamma rays has a haf - fe of 4 days . A Geger counter
paced 3 m from the source ntay has a count - rate of 21600 per mnute .
After 8 days, the counter s moved back to a dstance of 6 m from the
source and ts rate , n counts per mnute s then.
2. The number of radoactve nucdes n two dherent sampes P and O are
ntay 4 N and N respectvey. If the haf - fe of P s t and that of O s 3 t,
the number of radoactve nucdes n P w be the same as the number of
radoactve nucdes n O after a tme of
7
Physics Module Form 5
3. The actvty of a sampe of radoactve sotope decrease to V of ts nta
vaue n 32 s. How much more tme woud be requred for the actvty to
decrease to 1/64 of ts nta vaue ?
4. A detector s used for montorng an % - source and a readng of 240 unts
s observed. After a tme equa to twce the haf - fe of the % - source, the
readng has faen to 66 unts. If a 5 mm thck ead sheet s nserted between
the % - source and the detector, the readng woud probaby be
5. A counter s paced near a very weak radoactve source whch has a haf -
fe of 2 hours. The counter regsters 95 count/ mn at noon and 55 count /
mn at 2 p.m . The expected count - rate, n count / mn , at 6 p. m m on the
same day s
4. Some pond water becomes contamnated by the reease of radoactve
waste.
The radoactvty of a sampe of the contamnated water s tested every week
for 5 weeks.
The resuts are shown n the tabe beow.

5(6 Pot a graph of
actvty aganst tme
tme /
weeks
0 1 2 3 4 5
actvty
count
800 440 240 130 70 40
+
Physics Module Form 5
576 Draw the best curve through your ponts.
5c6 Use your graph to nd the haf-fe of the radoactve matera n the
sampe. Show ceary
on the graph how you obtaned your answer.
haf-fe of radoactve matera = weeks
5d6 Suggest two ma|or sources of background radaton.
5i6 Cosmic ras from the sun and other star
5ii6 radioactive minerals on the earth
7. Usng the tabe beow answer the foowng queston.
$(dio(cti)e
isotope
H(lf8life
Strontum-90 28 years
Radum-226 1602 years
Iodne-128 2 mnutes
What s the tme taken f the actvty of odne eft s ony 12.5
count/mn ?
5. $A%!O!SOTO,ES
-
Physics Module Form 5
(6 The (pplic(tion of #(dioisotope in indust#ies
1. Radosotopes are sotopes wth radoactve propertes.

Radioisotope source Use in Mechanism
Americium -241 Smoke detector Alpha particle emitted from the source
ionise air molecules. The ionized air
molecules conduct electricity and a small
current flo to the detector. Smoke
a!sor! alpha particles" the current flo
decrease and tri##er the alarm.
$eta - ray Thickness control A radioisotope sends radiation throu#h
the sheet material as it comes off the
production line. % and & radiation are
used for thin sheets. A radiation detector
on the other side of the sheet measures
the intensity of the radiation passin#
throu#h the sheet. The detector inform
the machinery to ad'ust the thickness of
the sheet automatically.
345,6781,
1. The thickness of paper can be checked by putting a radioactive source on one side of
the paper and a detector on the other side.
(a) Explain why and , sources would not be suitable. , 'd
is not suitable because :________________________________
is not suitable because :________________________________
(b) ow would the a!ount of radiation passing through the paper be changed
if the thickness of the paper increased"
_____________________________________________________________

1"
Physics Module Form 5
(c) #n such an experi!ent it was found that the nu!ber of counts per !inute
varied even when the thickness of the paper was unchanged. Explain this
observation.
_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
$. #n a paper !ill, paper pulp is s%uee&ed between rollers to for! a paper strip.
The pressure of the rollers is controlled by a signal fro! a radiation detector as
shown radiation in the diagra!. ' radioactive source is placed on the paper
opposite side of the paper to the detector.
(uggest how this arrange!ent produces paper of unifor! thickness.
)#f the radiation detector displays the sa!e reading that is the expected reading
when the paper strip passes through the pulp, we conclude that the thickness of
paper is
_________________.
)#f the radiation detector displays higher than the expected reading when the paper
strip passes through the pulp, we conclude that the thickness of paper is
__________________.

)#f the radiation detector displays lower than the expected reading when the paper
strip passes through the pulp, we conclude that the thickness of paper is
__________________.
76 The applications of radioisotopes in medical field
11
Physics Module Form 5
Medical field Examples Reasons
Sterilizing medical
equipment
Radioactive tracer
Cancer treatment
Blood clot
Question
The following table shows the properties of five radioisotopes substances *, + , ,, -
and .
/roperties
0adioactive
alf ) life 0ays 1 0adiation 2ucleon
nu!ber
0adioactivity
* 34$ years 'lpha 56 $7
+ 89$7 years 'lpha, beta ga!!a $$9 87
, 9 hours :a!!a 55 67
- 6.$; years :a!!a 97 $6
. 86 days <eta 4$ 47
<ased on the above table
i) explain the suitability of the properties of the radioactive substances that can be used
to kill tu!our cells of a cancer patient
c6 Application of radioisotopes in archaelog and in the field of agriculture
!ield Examples
Archaelog
12
Physics Module Form 5
Agriculture
"#$%&C'EAR E%ER()
"#$#* Atomic Mass &nit +a# m# u ,
8 'to!s are too =======. to be !easured in kilogra! or gra!
$. The !ass of an ato!, nucleus and proton are !easured in atomic mass unit ( a.m.u )
4. 8 a.!.u >
Therefore, 8 a.!.u >
"#$#* %uclear Energ
%uclear !ission
8. ?eaning :
$. Exa!ple :
235
-2
& -
1
"
n
-2
36
Kr +
141
56
Ba + 3
1
"
n - energ
Exercise
8. #n a nuclear reaction *) $46 is bo!barded by a neutron giving @s A 838, 0b A 54 and $
neutrons and energy is released . Bro! table below , deter!ine the energy released when one
* A $46 ato! undergoes such a nuclear reaction.
0adioactive ele!ent 'to!ic !ass unit, u
*) $46 $46.735$
0b A 54 54.5$86;
@s A 838 837.58594
2eutron 8.77C9;
13
Physics Module Form 5
%uclear !usion
8. ?eaning :
$. Exa!ple :The following e%uation shown a fusion reaction
n He H H
1
"
4
2
3
1
2
1
+ + - energy
$.78387 u 4.78976 u 3.77$97 u 8.77C9; u
D 8 u > 8.99 x 87
27
kg , c > 4.77 x 87
+
! s
1
E
,hat is the energy produced "
Exercise
8. ydrogen nuclei fuse together in the (un. The nucleus of one isotope of hydrogen
contains one proton and has the nuclide notation
1
1
. Fther isotopes of hydrogen have
the nuclide notations
2
1
and
3
1
.
(a) (tate the nu!ber of protons and the nu!ber of neutrons in a nucleus of each of the
two other isotopes of hydrogen.

14
Physics Module Form 5
(b, 2uclei !ay fuse when they co!e together.
(i) Explain why nuclei do not easily co!e together.
.
ii, Explain why nuclei are able to co!e together in the centre of the (un.
.
Chain Reactions
8. ' chain reaction is =a self * sustainin# reaction in hich the products of a reaction
can initiate another similar reaction
$. #n a chain reaction uranium !om!ar!ed !y a neutron.three free neutros !arium and
krypton and a #reat amout of ener#y are produced.
4. The three neutron will bo!bard another three uranium atoms.
%uclear Reactor
8. The !ost co!!on type of nuclear reactor in a nuclear plant is called the pressuri&ed
water reactor ( /,0 ).
$. Uranium -2+, is used as nuclear fuel.
4. A lot of heat will be produced
3. -uclear fission can be controlled !y moderators #raphite
15
Physics Module Form 5
6. -uclear reaction can be controlled by the $oron and .admium as control rod, to
absorb secondary neutron
9. @arbon dioxide or water is used as a coolin# a#ent " remo/e the heat of reaction
to make steam for tur!ine #enerator
;. The lead and concrete keep the radiation inside the reactor
.M/0RTA%T 0! /R0/ER MA%A(EME%T 0! RA1.0ACT.2E S&BSTA%CE
i# %egative Effects of Radioactive Su3stances
8. Radioacti/e wastes are considered dan#erous waste
$. The negative effects of radioactive waste depend on..
a) 0uantity of aste
b) the type of aste
c) the half- life of aste
d) the type of radioacti/e rays emitted
4 Gong half A lives threaten our health
3. 0adioactive waste !ust be kept in a special thick !arrel made of lead or concrete
6. The barrel containing the radioactive waste then !uried in unused mines or non
residential areas.
ii# Safet /recautions
8.1ead is used to block radioactive rays
$. Use distance controller or ton#s to !ove radioactive !aterials
4. The uniform worn by workers in a nuclear plant !ust be kept in special !a#s
3. ,orker in radioactive energy station !ust wear !ad#es to which the worker have
been e2posed to radioacti/e rays can !e determined.
6. -uclear reactor should be build on islands or areas far aay from residents
9. <arrels containing radioactive !aterials !ust be labeled 3 Radioacti/e materials H
and !ust carry the radioactive sy!bol.
16
Physics Module Form 5
Exercise
8.#n a research laboratory using radioactive !aterials, safety precautions have to be
observed.
(o!e of the safety precautions adopted by the laboratory are listed below.
Fn the lines after each precaution, state reasons why it is a wise precaution
+a, 0adioactive !aterials should only be picked up using long)handled tools.
0E'(F2 :=======================....................................
+3, Bood !ust not be taken where radioactive !aterials are being used.
0E'(F2 : Radioacti/e ill threaten our health.
+c, The researchers !ust wash their hands after the source has been put away safely.
0E'(F2 :========================......................
+d, 0adioactive !aterials !ust be stored in a locked drawer or cabinet.
0E'(F2 :=========================.........................
$.Table 8 and $ shows nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
%uclear fission
<efore reaction 'fter reaction
E%uation
23-
-4
/u I
1
"
n
145
56
<a I
-3
3+
(r I $
1
"
n I Energy
Total ato!ic !ass $37.797C$ a.!.u $45.C6C47 a.!.u
T'<GE 8
Table $ shows an e%uation of a reaction and total ato!ic !ass before and after a
nuclear fusion.
%uclear fusion
<efore reaction 'fter reaction
17
Physics Module Form 5
E%uation
2
1
I
3
1

4
2
e I
1
"
n I Energy
Total ato!ic !ass 6.74784 a.!.u
6.78734 a.!.u
T'<GE $
a) @o!pare and contrast fission reaction and fusion reaction.
i). (i!ilarities
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
ii) Jifferences
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
b) Bind the !ass defect of one nucleus of plutoniu!)$45
c) @alculate the energy released in the nuclear reaction.
(The velocity of light is 4 87
C
! s
)8
and 8 a.!.u is 8.99 - 87
)$;
kg)
$. *sing nuclear fission to generate electricity causes is controversial.
(tate two advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear energy to generate
electricity.
a) 'dvantage
i) _____________________________________________________________
1+
Physics Module Form 5
ii) _____________________________________________________________
b) Jisadvantage
i) ___________________________________________________________
ii) _________________________________________________________
1-