A-level Physics (Advancing Physics)/Radioactive Decay

Decay Constant

We can model radioactive decay by assuming that the probability that any one nucleus out of N nuclei decays in any one second is a constant λ. λ is known as the decay constant, and is measured in s⁻¹ (technically the same as Hz, but it is a probability, not a frequency, so we use s⁻¹).

Activity

As our N nuclei decay, the number of nuclei decreases. The activity of the N nuclei we have left is, on average, the probability that any one nucleus will decay per. unit time multiplied by the number of nuclei. If we have 200 nuclei, and the decay constant is 0.5, we would expect, on average, 100 nuclei to decay in one second. This rate would decreases as time goes by. This gives us the following formula for the activity A of a radioactive sample:

$A=-{\frac {dN}{dt}}=\lambda N$

Activity is always positive, and is measured in becquerels (Bq). It is easy to see that the rate of change of the number of nuclei is -A = -λN.

Decay

The solution of the differential equation for activity given above is an exponential relationship:

$N=N_{0}e^{-\lambda t}$,

where N is the number of nuclei present at a time t, and N₀ is the number of nuclei present at time t=0. You can define t=0 to be any point in time you like, provided you are consistent. Since A = λN and therefore A₀ = λN₀:

$A=A_{0}e^{-\lambda t}$,

where A is the activity of the sample at a time t, and A₀ is the activity at time t=0.

Questions

1 mole = 6.02 x 10²³ atoms

1u = 1.66 x 10⁻²⁷kg

1. Americium-241 has a decay constant of 5.07 x 10⁻¹¹s⁻¹. What is the activity of 1 mole of americium-241?

2. How many g of lead-212 (λ = 18.2μs⁻¹) are required to create an activity of 0.8 x 10¹⁸Bq?

3. How long does it take for 2 kg of lead-212 to decay to 1.5 kg of lead-212?

4. Where does the missing 0.5 kg go?

5. Some americium-241 has an activity of 3kBq. What is its activity after 10 years?

6. This model of radioactive decay is similar to taking some dice, rolling them once per. second, and removing the dice which roll a one or a two. What is the decay constant of the dice?

7. If you started out with 10 dice, how many dice would you have left after 10s? What is the problem with this model of radioactive decay?

Worked Solutions