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Radioactive Decay

Also known as nuclear decay, radioactive decay is the decrease of radiation through time.

540 Questions

What radioactive particle that can travel almost at the speed of light?

Since Nuclear radiation is simply electromagnetic waves and all electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light all nuclear radiation travels at the speed of light. But the frequency will vary.

What is a radioactive decay equation?

Gamma is not a decay process. It is a consequence of a decay process, but it, in itself, is not a decay process. It is the emission of a photon from the excited state of the nucleus in response to a decay process such as alpha or beta that changes the nucleus and leaves it with excess energy.

What is the nuclear decay equation for sulfur-35?

The equation would be 35/16 S ----- 0/-1 + 35/15P The daughter nucleus would be the 35/15P.

What materials can alpha radiation go through?

Alpha particles have very little kinetic energy, and are fairly safely stopped by a few centimeters of air or something as thin as a sheet of paper. Of course, they can travel unimpeded through a vacuum.

Can carbon dating be used on a stone to determine it's age?

It is not possible to carbon date rocks. Carbon 14 dating is based on the absorption of atmospheric carbon by livingthings. When the thing dies it no longer takes in carbon from the atmosphere through processes such as eating or respiration and levels of C14 in the body deplete due to the natural process of radioactive decay. By seeing how much C14 remains it is possible to see how long it has been since that animal died.

However there are a range of other dating methods which can be used.

What heappens to an atom that experiences radioactive decay?

Electron capture is the absorption of an electron by an atomic nucleus if that nucleus is neutron poor. An electron is captured, usually from an inner electron shell of that atom, and it will convert a proton in the nucleus into a neutron. We know that a neutron is converted into a proton and an electron in neutron decay, so it might be looked at as something of an opposite nuclear reaction where a proton and an electron combine to form a neutron.

What conditions in the nucleus are likely to result in an atom undergoing radioactive decay?

A nucleus can be inherently unstable. It can absorb an energetic photon (photoactivation) and become unstable. It can capture positrons, electrons, neutrons, and protons and become unstable. Decay processes include: # Alpha emission, a high energy 4He nucleus # Beta emission, a high energy electron # Beta+ emission / Beta capture, either a positron is emitted or an electron is captured into the nucleus (Burp!) # Gamma emission, one or more high energy photons are emitted # Neutron emission, neutrons of varying energies may be ejected in the process of a heavy nucleus decay (even tritium).

Does copper 60 decay?

Yes, copper-60 (Cu-60) is a radioactive isotope that undergoes beta decay. It has a half-life of about 23.7 minutes, meaning it decays relatively quickly. During the decay process, copper-60 transforms into nickel-60 (Ni-60) by emitting beta particles. This makes Cu-60 unstable and subject to decay over time.

How much mass is lost through radioactive decay if 1.8x1015 J are released?

The idea is to divide the energy by c squared - where c is approximately 3 x 10 to the power 8 meters/second. Since all the units involved are in SI, the answer will be in kilograms.

How much cesium would remain from a 10 g sample after 4 years?

As you did not specify an isotope of cesium, I will assume you meant natural cesium. Natural cesium is not radioactive so it does not decay.

There will always be the same 10 g of cesium, no matter how long you wait.

Can you use halflife to determine when dinosaurs died?

The concept of half-life is used to measure the rate of radioactive decay in elements, not to determine when dinosaurs died. Paleontologists use various dating techniques, such as radiometric dating of the rocks associated with dinosaur fossils or relative dating based on the position of fossils in rock layers, to estimate when dinosaurs lived and became extinct.

What is the correct order of nuclear decay mode for the changes from U-238 to U-234?

The correct order of nuclear decay mode for the changes from U-238 to U-234 is alpha decay followed by beta decay. In alpha decay, the nucleus emits an alpha particle, reducing its atomic number by 2 and mass number by 4, resulting in Th-234. This is followed by beta decay, where a neutron is converted into a proton, producing U-234.

What is an effective barrier to protect someone from each of the three major nuclear decay product?

  1. Alpha, a single sheet of paper or healthy unbroken skin totally blocks
  2. Beta, a thin sheet of any metal totally blocks
  3. Gamma, cannot be blocked only attenuated by very thick layers of dense metals like lead

The biggest danger with alpha is caused by internal radioactive decay due to ingestion or inhalation of the source material.

If the source strength of a gamma emitter is doubled then the thickness of the shield must also be doubled to keep your exposure dose rate constant. Total dose received is the product of exposure time and dose rate.

Where Might Decay happen?

Decay can occur in various contexts, including biological, chemical, and physical environments. In biology, organic matter such as food and plant material decomposes due to microbial activity. In chemistry, substances may undergo decay through processes like radioactive decay, where unstable isotopes transform into more stable forms over time. Additionally, physical objects, like metals and wood, can decay or deteriorate due to environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, and exposure to pollutants.