1

Explain the terms, decay constant, half-life and average life as applied to a radioactive
substance. Find the relation between them
A living tree has a carbon-14 decay rate of 13.6 counts per minute per gram. An old dried
piece of wood from the same type of tree has a decay rate of 3.4 counts per minute per gram.
The half-life of carbon-14 is 5730 years.
i. Estimate the age of the old piece of wood
ii. How many counts per minute per gram will be measured if the wood was 18000 years
old?
Solution:

0.6931 ii
T1 =
2 λ 0.6931
N = N o e − λt λ=
T1
2
0.6931
λ= 0.6931
T1 λ
= = 1.2 ×10−4 yrs −1
2 5730
λ
=
0.6931
= 1.2 ×10−4 yrs −1 N = N o e − λt
5730 t = 18000
 N 
 = −λ t
−4
ln  N = (13.6)e − (1.2×10 )(18000)

 No 
N = (13.6)e − (2.16)
N o = 13.6
N = (13.6)(0.115325)
N = 3.4
N = 1.568 counts per minute per gram.
 3.4 
ln  =−(1.2 ×10−4 )t
 13.6 
−1.38629 = −(1.2 ×10−4 )t
1.38629
=t
1.2 ×10−4
t = 11552 yrs

Complete the following nuclear reactions

17 Cl 25 + ? → 16 S 32 + 2 He 4
5 B10 + ? → 3 Li 7 + 2 He 4
3 Li 6 + ? → 4 Be7 + o n1
 2

25
Determine the product nuclei and Q value threshold energy in the following reaction: Mg
(α, d). Masses of 27
Al , 25
Mg , α and d are 26.9901u, 24.9936u, 4.0039u and 2.0147u
respectively.
Solution:

Mg 25 + 2 He 4 → 13 Al 27 + 1 H 2 + Q  m + mt 
Eth = −Q  i
12

 mt 
Q = (mmg + mHe ) − (mAl + mH )  c 2  4.0039 + 24.9936 
Eth =−(− 6.797)  
 24.9936 
Q [ ( 24.9936 + 4.0039)u − ( 26.9901+2.0147)u ] c 2
 28.9975 
Q = [ − 0.0073u ] c 2 Eth =−(− 6.797)  
 24.9936 
c 2 = 931.3
MeV Eth =−(− 6.797) (1.160197 )
u Eth = 7.886 MeV
Q= −0.0073 × 931.3MeV
Q = −6.797 MeV

Use the expression for binding energy given below to derive a formula for the atomic number
of the most stable isobar of a given A.

aa ( N − Z ) 2
2 δ
ac Z ( Z − 1)
B.E =av A − as A 3 −
1
± 3 −
A3 A A4
Take the values of the constants, expressed in MeV, are a = 15.760; b = 17.810, c = 0.72, d
= 23.0, δ = 34.
Solution:
∂ ( B.E )
Thus we have to compute with A constant and equate it to Zero.
∂Z
Recall:
2 ac Z ( Z − 1) aa ( N − Z ) 2
B.E =av A − as A 3 − 1
− ±δ
A 3 A
For large nuclei ⇒ Z ( Z − 1) ≈ Z 2 and N = A − Z ⇒ N − Z = A − 2 Z

2 ac Z 2 aa ( A − 2 Z ) 2
B.E =av A − as A 3 − 1
− ±δ
A 3 A

∂ ( B.E ) 2 Za 4a
= − 1 c + a ( A − 2Z )
∂Z A3 A
∂ ( B.E ) ∂  2 ac Z 2 aa ( A − 2 Z ) 2 
=  v
a A − a A 3
− − ±δ 
∂Z ∂Z 
s 1
A3 A 
 3

∂ ( B.E )
Thus for maximum stability we must have =0
∂Z
∂ ( B.E ) 2 Za 4a
⇒ =
0=
− 1 c + a ( A − 2Z )
∂Z A3 A

2 Za 4a 4a 2 Za
0=
− 1 c + a ( A − 2 Z ) ⇒ a ( A − 2 Z ) =1 c
A3 A A A3
2
4d ( A − 2 Z ) =
2 ZcA 3

2
4aa A − 8aa Z =
2 Zac A 3

2
=
4aa A 2 Zac A 3 + 8aa Z
2
=
4aa A Z (2ac A 3 + 8aa )
4dA
Z= 2
2cA 3 + 8d
A
Z=
 c  23
 A +2
 2d 
A
Z=
 0.72  2 3
 2(23)  A + 2
 
A
Z= 2
(0.015652) A 3 + 2

25
Determine which is the most stable isobar among 11 Na , 1225 Mg and 25
13 Al , and state which one
is radioactive
Solution:
The liquid drop model gives the value of Z for the most stable isobar of mass A by:
A
Z= 2
(0.015652) A 3 + 2

For A = 25,
25
Z= 2
(0.015652)(25) 3 + 2
25
Z=
(0.015652)(8.5499) + 2
25
Z=
(0.13382) + 2
25
Z=
2.13382
=
Z 11.716 ⇒ Z ≈ 12.0
 4

25 25 25
This nuclide is 12 Mg is the only stable A = 25 isobar. While 11 Na and 13 Al are both
radioactive.

According to Yukawa, the strong nuclear force keeping the nucleus together is mediated by this
exchange particle called the meson (π). Show how this mesons are exchanged between:
(1) Proton and proton (2) proton and neutron and (3) neutron and neutron.
Solution:

Only the π o is exchanged between identified nucleon i.e. p – p on n – n.

List three properties which a nuclei whose number of neutrons or number of protons
corresponds to the magic number exhibit.
Solution:
a. It is extremely stable

b. It has large number of stable isotopes and isotones

c. It seems to have spherical charge distribution