3/2003 Rev 1

I.2.7 slide 1 of 35
Session I.2.7
Part I Review of Fundamentals

Module 2 Basic Physics and Mathematics
Used in Radiation Protection

Session 7 Radioactive Decay
IAEA Post Graduate Educational Course
Radiation Protection and Safe Use of Radiation Sources
3/2003 Rev 1
I.2.7 slide 2 of 35
Radioactive decay is the process by which
unstable atoms transform themselves into
new chemical elements

Students will learn about decay constants,
activity, units, half-life, how to use the
radioactive decay equation, and mean life
Introduction
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Content
Activity
Law of Radioactive Decay
Half-Life
Decay Constant
Mean Life
Units
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Overview
Radioactive decay principles and
pertinent terms will be discussed

Units to measure radioactive decay
will be defined
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1 Bq = 1 disintegration per second
Activity
The amount of a radionuclide present

SI unit is the becquerel (Bq)
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Multiples & Prefixes (Activity)
Multiple Prefix Abbreviation
1 ------- Bq
1,000,000 Mega (M) MBq
1,000,000,000 Giga (G) GBq
1,000,000,000,000 Tera (T) TBq
1 x 10
15
Peta (P) PBq
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Units
Curie (Ci) = 3.7 x 10
10
dps

Becquerel (Bq) = 1 dps

1 Ci = 3.7 x 10
10
Bq

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Non-SI Units
Quantity Old Unit SI Unit Conversion

Activity curie (Ci) becquerel (Bq) 1 Ci=3.7 x 10
10
Bq

Absorbed
Dose rad gray (Gy) 1 rad = 0.01 Gy

Equivalent
Dose rem sievert (Sv) 1 rem = 0.01 Sv
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The Decay Constant is denoted by
NOTE: Units on are

Typically or sec
-1
or per second
Decay Constant
1
time
1
sec
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A = N
where A = activity has units of
disintegrations per second
(dps or Bq)
Activity
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The relationship between half-life
and decay constant is:
Half-Life and Decay Constant
T

=
0.693

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Half-Life
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Half-Life
Radionuclide Half-Life
Phosphorus-32 14.3 days
Iridium-192 74 days
Cobalt-60 5.25 years
Caesium-137 30 years
Carbon-14 5760 years
Uranium-238 4.5 x 10
9
years
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Sample Problem
A criticality accident occurs in a Uranium
processing facility. 10
19
fissions occur over
a 17-hour period. Given that the fission
yield for
131
I is 0.03 and its half-life is 8 days,
calculate the
131
I activity at the end of the
accident. Neglect
131
I decay during the
accident.
3/2003 Rev 1
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Solution to Sample Problem
Activity = N = x

x ( 10
19
x 0.03) = 3 x 10
11
Bq
131
I
0.693
8 days
1
86,400 sec day
-1
3 x 10
11
Bq
3.7 x 10
10
Bq/Ci
= 8.1 Ci
131
I
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Differential Equation for
Radioactive Decay
= - N(t)
dN
dt
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Radioactive Decay Equation
N(t) = N
o
e
-t

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Expressing the equation in terms of activity:
Radioactive Decay Equation
N(t) = N
o
e
-t
A(t) = A
o
e
- t
where A(t) = activity at any time t

and A
o
= the initial activity at time t = 0
or
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Radioactive Decay
The amount of activity decayed away
after n half-lives is given by
A
A
o
1 -
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The amount of activity A remaining
after n half-lives is given by
Radioactive Decay
A
A
o

1
2
n

=
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Mean Life
T
M
= 1.44 T
1/2
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Radioactive Decay
Activity (A)

Bq

or
disintegration
time
time (t)
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Example
The area under
the curve is
speed x time or
(50 km/hr) x 1 hr
= 50 kilometers
Speed (s)

kph

or
kilometers
hour
time (hours)
1
50
A Vehicle Traveling at Constant Speed
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Example
The area under
the curve is
(speed x time)/2
or
(50 kph x 1 hr)/2
= 25 kilometers
Speed (s)

kph

or
kilometers
hour
time (hours)
1
50
A Decelerating Vehicle
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Area Under the Decay Curve
A = A
o
e
- t


0

A dt = A
o
e
- t
dt

0

= A
o
e
- t
dt

0

= A
o

0

e
- t
-
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Substituting and 0 for t
= A
o

e
- ()
-
-
e
- (0)
-
= A
o

-
-
1

-
0
= +
A
o


0
1
Area Under the Decay Curve
=
A
o


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Half-Life
However, when t = T

, the activity
decreases to of the original value:
A = A
o
e
- t
or
A
A
o

= e
- t
A
A
o

=
A
o

A
o

=
= e
-

T

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Take the natural logarithm of both sides
ln () = -T


1
=
ln ()
-T

Regrouping terms yields
But ln () = - ln (2) so:

1
=
- ln (2)
-T

ln (2)
T

=
Half-Life & Decay Constant
ln () = ln (e )
-

T

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but ln(2) = 0.693

1
=
ln (2)
T

Mean Life & Decay Constant
= 1.44 T

= T
m


1
=
0.693
T

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T
m
= 1.44 T

T
m

T

Activity (A)

Bq

or
disintegration
time
time (t)
A
o

A
o

Mean Life
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Activity (A)

Bq

or
disintegration
time
time (t)
T
m

A
o

A
o

Remember the
equation A = N

the total # of atoms
N = A
o
/ = A
o
T
m

Mean Life
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A radionuclide has a half life of 10 days.
What is the mean life?
Sample Problem
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Solution to Sample Problem
Mean Life = 1.44 T
1/2


= 1.44 x 10 days

= 14.4 days
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Summary
Activity defined and units discussed

Decay constant defined

Half-life defined - relationship to decay constant

Radioactive decay equation derived

Mean life derived - relationship to half-life
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Where to Get More Information
Cember, H., Introduction to Health Physics, 3
rd
Edition,
McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)

Firestone, R.B., Baglin, C.M., Frank-Chu, S.Y., Eds.,
Table of Isotopes (8
th
Edition, 1999 update), Wiley,
New York (1999)

International Atomic Energy Agency, The Safe Use of
Radiation Sources, Training Course Series No. 6,
IAEA, Vienna (1995)