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Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy

Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy. Chapter 19. Stable and unstable. Most atoms are stable Meaning they will not fall apart But all have unstable isotopes that will fall apart over time. Isotope- atoms with a different number of neutrons

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Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy

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  1. Radioactivityand Nuclear Energy Chapter 19

  2. Stable and unstable • Most atoms are stable • Meaning they will not fall apart • But all have unstable isotopes that will fall apart over time. • Isotope- atoms with a different number of neutrons • Atoms tend to be stable with the same or slightly larger number of neutrons as protons.

  3. Graph of Isotopes “band of stability”

  4. Radioactivity • (radioactive decay) – the nucleus of unstable atoms breaking apart and emitting particles and/or electromagnetic radiation. • An unstable isotope converts into a daughter isotope and releases radiation in the process. • Particles and radiation are dangerous. • electromagnetic radiation include things like light, infrared, ultraviolet, x-rays, microwaves, and gamma rays.

  5. Radiation • It is out there • You are exposed to radiation everyday. • Small amounts are not really harmful. • The sun releases radiation that hits the Earth (and you) • Certain products are radioactive (smoke detectors, TV’s and computers) • Even the potassium in bananas is radioactive.

  6. Radioactive particles • Only radioactive isotopes will release radiation. • Radioactive isotopes will act exactly like non-radioactive isotopes of the same element until they “fall apart”. • e.g. Carbon -12 is not radioactive. Carbon-14 is radioactive. C-14 will act exactly like C-12 until undergoes radioactive decay.

  7. Types of radiation • (alpha)  radiation- 2 protons and 2 neutrons (helium nucleus) are released by the atom •  particle-2 p+ 2 no • (beta)  radiation 1 neutron breaks into a proton and an electron, the electron is released •  particle- an electron • (gamma)  radiation – An energetic atom releases energy as a photon (gamma ray). • There is no particle, just a light pulse.

  8. Stopping radiation

  9. diagram

  10. Most Dangerous •  particles are the most dangerous if they are not stopped. • They are exceptionally large compared to the other particles • It is like a cannon ball ripping through a cell. If hit, a cell will most likely die. • Because of their size they damage the first thing they hit (they aren’t likely to squeeze through gaps)

  11. Continuing • If it hits something nonliving (dead cells or molecules), it will damage the nonliving structure. However, it was already dead. •  particles are much smaller and more likely to squeeze through gaps, penetrating much deeper before hitting and damaging something. • Once the radiation is stopped, it is no longer dangerous. It is only dangerous when it is moving at a high velocity.

  12. Where does radiation come from • only about 18% of the radiation that hits the average person comes from manmade sources. • The majority of that comes from X-rays or related procedures. • The rest are naturally occurring on the Earth. • Mainly Radon gas (naturally occurring)

  13. Half life • Half life is the time it will take for half the material to decay into radiation. • Unstable isotopes have a short half life (3.8 days for Radon-222) • (Carbon-10 has a half life of 19.2 s) • More stable ones have a longer half life (5715 years for Carbon-14) • Stable isotopes have no half life since they do NOT decay. (Carbon-12)

  14. Detecting Radiation • A Geiger counter is the most familiar tool for detecting radiation. • The probe of this device contains argon gas. When radiation hits the gas it ionizes it, or knocks and electron off. • Ar → Ar+ + e- • These electrons falling off creates a weak electric pulse, which makes a speaker click.

  15. More Half life • If two half lives pass… • the material is not gone • you actually have ¼ remaining • half is left after the first half life, then half of that after the second half life. • Not as much radiation is coming out (since there is less mass) but it is still there.

  16. Graphing half life mass of isotope 0 1 2 3 4 number of half lives

  17. Carbon dating • Dates of very old materials are determined using carbon-14 or C-14 dating. • It can only be used on things once alive. • This is done by measuring the number of radioactive C-14 isotopes.

  18. How it works • Radiation on this planet causes radioactive isotopes to form. • A known percentage of the carbon dioxide in the air contains the radioactive C-14 isotope. • This carbon dioxide is used to “build” all living things (plants use it for food, animals eat the plants etc.)

  19. Finding an age • The amount of C-14 in an object can be measured. • This amount is compared to the amount assumed to be there when it died. • You count the half lives to determine its age.

  20. Disputing Carbon Dating • Some people have stated the amount of radiation hitting the planet (causing the known percentage of C-14) has changed over time. • This would cause serious errors in these calculations.

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