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Problems & Solutions
4.0
Radioactive Decay
SET- 04 (1)
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
DPHYSICS KRISHNA CHOWK, NEW SANGAVI, PUNE-27 CONTACT: 8830156303
[Date]
1. A nucleus emits successive 𝛼-particles until it reaches Pb − 206, which is stable. If the
original nucleus was U − 238 , calculate the number of 𝛼-decays required.
REFERENCE BOOK:S.KRANE
(a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 8 (d) 10
2. In the 𝛼-decay of a heavy nucleus A → (A − 4) + 𝛼 the Q -value is reported to be 5.00
MeV . Treating nuclear masses approximately as 238u and the 𝛼 as 4 ⋅ u(u = atomic
mass unit), and neglecting any excitation of the daughter nucleus, determine the kinetic
energy carried by the emitted 𝛼 particle. The problem requires you to account for
conservation of momentum (recoil) and partitioning of the total kinetic energy Q
between the 𝛼 and the daughter nucleus.
(a) 4.90 MeV (b) 4.50 MeV (c) 2.10 MeV (d) 0.98 MeV
3. Consider a nucleus for which the difference of atomic masses (parent atom minus
daughter atom) is ΔM = 0.00100𝑢(1𝑢 = 931.494MeV/𝑐 2 ). Decide which of the
following decay modes is energetically allowed: 𝛽 + emission, orbital electron capture
(EC), both, or neither. Carefully include the positron mass threshold for 𝛽 + emission.
(a) 𝛽 + emission allowed, 𝐸𝐶 forbidden (b) EC allowed, 𝛽 + emission forbidden
(c) Both 𝛽 + and EC allowed (d) Neither allowed
4. A nucleus de-excites by 𝛾 emission from a level with J𝜋 = 2 + down to the ground state
J𝜋 = 0 +. Using parity and angular-momentum selection rules for electromagnetic
radiation, identify the lowest multipolarity of the emitted photon and the
electromagnetic character (electric or magnetic). Explain why higher multipoles are
less likely.
(a) M1 (b) E 1 (c) E2 (d) M 2
DPHYSICS KRISHNA CHOWK, NEW SANGAVI, PUNE-27 CONTACT: 8830156303
5. Two otherwise identical nuclear transitions (same initial and final states with the same
transition energy and multipolarity) occur in isotopes of 𝑍 = 20 and 𝑍 = 82. For a low
transition energy ( ∼ 100keV ) which nucleus will exhibit the larger internal conversion
coefficient (more likely to de-excite by ejecting an orbital electron than emitting a 𝛾 )
and why?
(a) 𝑍 = 20 will have the larger internal conversion coefficient
(b) 𝑍 = 82 will have the larger internal conversion coefficient
(c) Both will have the same internal conversion coefficient (ICC) because nuclear
matrix elements are identical
(d) ICC is independent of Z for fixed multipolarity and energy
6. A radioactive parent P(T1/2 = 1000 d) decays to daughter D(T1/2 = 1 d). A fresh
sample contains N 0 atoms of P and no D initially. After a time long compared with the
daughter's half-life but short compared with the parent's half-life, what is the
relationship between the activities of P and D (A_P, A_D)? Provide the limiting behavior
and reasoning.
(a) A_D ≈ 0 (daughter decayed away) (b) A_D ≈ A_P (secular equilibrium)
(c) A_D ≈ 1000 × A_P (d) A_D ≈ A_P/1000
7. You have an initially equal number N0 of two radioactive isotopes 𝑋 and 𝑌. Their half-
lives are 𝑇1/2(𝑋) = 2 h and T1/2(Y) = 10 h. After a long laboratory counting period of
t = 50 h, which isotope contributes the larger fraction to the remaining activity and
why? Provide a quantitative estimate of the ratio of the surviving numbers.
(a) X dominates because it decays faster initially
DPHYSICS KRISHNA CHOWK, NEW SANGAVI, PUNE-27 CONTACT: 8830156303
(b) Y dominates; N_Y/N_X ≈ 103
(c) 𝑌 dominates; N_Y/N_X ≈ 106
(d) X and Y contribute equally after 50 h
8. A nucleus decays by two competing channels with partial decay constants 𝜆− 𝛼 =
0.010 s − 1 and 𝜆− 𝛽 = 0.001 s − 1. What is the branching ratio (probability) for the 𝛼
channel? Also compute the total half-life T1/2 of this nucleus.
(a) Branching 𝛼 = 0.091; T1/2 = 69.3 s (b) Branching 𝛼 = 0.909; T1/2 = 62.9 s
(c) Branching 𝛼 = 0.909; T1/2 = 69.3 s (d) Branching 𝛼 = 0.091; T1/2 = 62.9 s
9. A radioactive sample consists of a mixture of two isotopes with half-lives 2 hours and 6
hours. Initially, their activities are equal. After 6 hours, what will be the ratio of their
activities (short-lived : long-lived)?
(a) 1: 2 (b) 1: 4 (c) 1: 8 (d) 1: 16
10. In a 𝛽 + decay, a nucleus emits a positron and a neutrino. If the parent has mass 𝑀𝑝 and
the daughter has mass𝑀𝑑 , express the Q-value condition for the decay to be
energetically allowed.
(a) Mp − 𝑀𝑑 > 0 (b) Mp − 𝑀𝑑 > 𝑚𝑒
(c) 𝑀𝑝 − 𝑀𝑑 > 2𝑚𝑒 (d) Mp − 𝑀𝑑 > 3𝑚𝑒
Answer Key
1. C 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. B 7. C 8. B 9. B 10. C
DPHYSICS KRISHNA CHOWK, NEW SANGAVI, PUNE-27 CONTACT: 8830156303
