Understanding Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity
Understanding Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity
Nuclei
Learning & Revision for the Day
u Concept of Nucleus u Mass Energy Relation u Nuclear Fission
u Radioactivity u Mass Defect and Binding Energy u Nuclear Fusion
Concept of Nucleus
In every atom, the positive charge and mass is densely concentrated at the centre of the
atom forming its nucleus. In nucleus, the number of protons is equal to the atomic number
of that element and the remaining particles to fulfil the mass number are the neutrons.
Composition of Nucleus
Nucleus consists of protons and neutrons. Electrons cannot exist inside the nucleus.
A proton is a positively charged particle having mass (m p) of 1.007276 u and charge
(+ e) = +1.602 × 10 –19 C.
For a neutral atom, Number of proton ( Z ) = Number of electron
This number is called the atomic number. A neutron is a neutral particle having mass
mn = 1.008665 u. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is called the neutron
number N. The sum of the number of protons and neutrons is called the mass number A.
Thus, A = N + Z .
Properties of Nucleus
Nuclear size
(a) Size of the nucleus is of the order of fermi (1 fermi = 10 −15 m ).
(b) The radius of the nucleus is given by R = R0 A1 /3 , PREP
where, R0 = 1.3 fermi and A is the mass number. MIRROR
Your Personal Preparation Indicator
Volume
u No. of Questions in Exercises (x)—
4
The volume of nucleus is V = π (R0 A1 /3 )3 , where, R0 = radius of the nucleus. u No. of Questions Attempted (y)—
3
u No. of Correct Questions (z)—
Density (Without referring Explanations)
Mass of nucleus Am p mp
(a) Density = = = u Accuracy Level (z / y × 100)—
Volume of the nucleus 4 π (R A1 /3 )3 4
πR03 u Prep Level (z / x × 100)—
0
3 3
where, m p = 1.6 × 10 −27 kg = mass of proton and R0 = 1.3 fermi. In order to expect good rank in JEE,
your Accuracy Level should be above
(b) Density of nuclear matter is of the order of 1017 kg/m3 . 85 & Prep Level should be above 75.
(c) Density of nuclear matter is independent of the mass number.
360 40 DAYS ~ JEE MAIN PHYSICS DAY THIRTY THREE
dN dN
Isotopes, Isobars and Isotones Mathematically,
dt
∝ N or
dt
= − λN
●
32 56 100
16 S Fe Mo 12
12
O I t
C
8
18
O 184 undergone fission in time t seconds and E = energy
4 W 197
An 238
He 14 U released in each fission.
N
6
6
Li
4 Reproduction Factor
3
H Reproduction factor (k ) of a nuclear chain reaction is defined
2 as
2
H Rate of production of neutrons
0
k =
0 50 100 150 200 250 Rate of loss / Absorption of neutrons
Mass number (A)
362 40 DAYS ~ JEE MAIN PHYSICS DAY THIRTY THREE
●
If k = 1, then the chain reaction will be steady and the The mass of the single nucleus, so formed is less than the sum
reactor is said to be critical. of the masses of parent nuclei and this difference in mass,
●
If k > 1, then the chain reaction is accelerated and it may results in the release of tremendously large amount of energy.
cause explosion in the reactor. Such a reactor is called The fusion reaction going on in the central core of sun is a
super-critical. multistep process, but the net reaction is
●
If k < 1, then chain reaction gradually slows down and 4 11H + 2 ε – → 42He + 2 ν + 6γ + 26.7 MeV
comes to a halt. Such a reactor is called sub-critical. When two positively charged particles (protons or deuterons)
The reactors giving fresh nuclear fuel which often exceeds the combine to form a larger nucleus, the process is hindered by
nuclear fuel used is known as breeder reactor. the Coulombian repulsion between them.
To overcome the Coulombian repulsion, the charged particles
are to be given an energy of atleast 400 keV.
Nuclear Fusion For this, proton/deuterons must be heated to a temperature of
Nuclear fusion is the process, in which two or more light about 3 × 10 9 K. Nuclear fusion reaction is therefore, known as
nuclei combine to form a single large nucleus. thermo nuclear fusion reaction.
12 If Mo is the mass of an oxygen isotope 8O17,M p and Mn 15 Statement I A certain radioactive substance has a
are the masses of a proton and a neutron, respectively the half-life period of 30 days. Its disintegration constant is
nuclear binding energy of the isotope is 0.0231 day −1.
(a) (Mo − 8M p )c 2 (b) (M o − 8 M p − 9Mn )c 2 Statement II Decay constant varies inversely as half-life.
(c) Mo c 2 (d) (Mo − 17Mn )c 2 16 Statement I Half-life of a certain radioactive element is
13 The binding energies per nucleon of Li 7and He 4 are 100 days. After 200 days, fraction left undecayed will be
5.6 MeV and 7.06 MeV respectively, then the energy of 50%.
the reaction Li 7 + p = 2 [ 2 He 4 ] will be N 1
n
Statement II = , where symbols have usual
(a) 17.28 MeV (b) 39.2 MeV (c) 28.24 MeV (d) 1.46 MeV N 0 2
14 The below is a plot of binding energy per nucleon E b , meaning.
against the nuclear mass M; A, B, C, D, E, F correspond
17 Statement I In a decay, daughter nucleus shifts two
to different nuclei.
places to the left from the parent nucleus.
Statement II An alpha particle carries four units of mass.
C D
Eb B E 18 Statement I Energy is released in nuclear fission.
A F Statement II Total binding energy of the fission fragments
is larger than the total binding energy of the parent
M nucleus.
Consider four reactions ª [AIEEE 2010] 19 Statement I If half-life period and the mean-life of a
(i) A + B → C + ε (ii) C → A + B + ε radioactive element are denoted by T and Tm
(iii) D + E → F + ε and (iv) F → D + E + ε respectively, then T < Tm .
where ε is the energy released. In which reactions is ε 1
Statement II Mean-life =
positive? decay constant
(a) (i) and (iv) (b) (i) and (iii)
(c) (ii) and (iv) (d) (ii) and (iii)
20 Statement I Energy is released when heavy nuclei
undergo fission or light nuclei undergo fusion.
Direction (Q. Nos. 15-21) Each of these questions contains Statement II For heavy nuclei, binding energy for per
two statements : Statement I and Statement II. Each of these nucleon increases with increasing Z while for light nuclei.
questions also has four alternative choices, only one of which It decreases with increasing Z.
is the correct answer. You have to select one of the codes (a),
(b), (c) and (d) given below 21 Statement I A nucleus having energy E 1 decays by β −
(a) Statement I is true, Statement II is true; Statement II is emission to daughter nucleus having energy E 2, but β −
the correct explanation for Statement I rays are emitted with a continuous energy spectrum
(b) Statement I is true, Statement II is true; Statement II is having end point energy E 1 − E 2.
not the correct explanation for Statement I Statement II To conserve energy and momentum in
(c) Statement I is true; Statement II is false β-decay, atleast three particles must take part in the
(d) Statement I is false; Statement II is true transformation. ª AIEEE 2011
4 A piece of wood from the ruins of an ancient building was calculate how much bigger that B must E be for such a
found to have a 14C activity of 12 disintegrations per process to happen?
minute per gram of its carbon content. The 14C activity of B2 B B2 3B
(a) (b) (c) (d)
the living wood is 16 disintegrations per minute per gram. 2 mc 2
2 mc 2
4 mc 2
4 mc 2
How long ago did the tree, from which the wooden
sample came, die? Given, half-life of 14C is 5760 yr ? 8 Assume that a neutron breaks into a proton and an
(a) 2391 yr (b) 2300 yr (c) 2250 yr (d) 2261 yr electron. The energy released during this process is
(mass of neutron = 1.6725 × 10−27 kg, mass of proton
5 A radioactive sample S1 having an activity of 5 µCi has
= 1.6725 × 10−27 kg, mass of electron = 9 × 10 −31 kg)
twice the number of nuclei as another sample S 2 which
ª AIEEE 2012
has an activity of 10 µCi. The half-lives of S1 and S 2 can be
(a) 0.9 MeV (b) 7.10 MeV (c) 6.30 MeV (d) 5.4 MeV
(a) 20 yr and 5 yr, respectively
(b) 20 yr and 10 yr, respectively 9 A radioactive nucleus A with a half-lifeT , decays into a
(c) 10 yr each nucleus B. At t = 0, there is no nucleus B. After sometime
(d) 5 yr each t, the ratio of the number of B to that of A is 0.3. Then, t is
6 The half-life period of a radioactive element X is same as given by ª JEE Main 2017 (Offline)
the mean life time of another radioactive element Y. log 13
.
(a) t = T (b) t = T log 13
.
Initially, they have the same number of atoms. Then, loge 2
(a) X will decay faster than Y T T loge 2
(c) t = (d) t =
(b) Y will decay faster than X log 13
. 2 log 13
.
(c) Y and X have same decay rate initially 10 Half-lives of two radioactive elements A and B are
(d) X and Y decay at same rate always 20 min and 40 min, respectively. Initially, the samples
7 Deuteron is a bound state of a neutron and a proton with have equal number of nuclei. After 80 min, the ratio of
a binding energy B = 2.2 MeV. A γ-ray of energy E is decayed numbers of A and B nuclei will be
aimed at a deuteron nucleus to try to break it into a ª JEE Main 2016 (Offline)
(neutron + proton) such that the n and p move in the (a) 1 : 16 (b) 4 : 1 (c) 1 : 4 (d) 5 : 4
direction of the incident γ-ray. Where E ≠ B. Then,
ANSWERS
1 (c) 2 (b) 3 (a) 4 (a) 5 (a) 6 (d) 7 (b) 8 (b) 9 (a) 10 (c)
SESSION 1
11 (a) 12 (b) 13 (a) 14 (a) 15 (a) 16 (c) 17 (b) 18 (a) 19 (b) 20 (c)
21 (a)
SESSION 2 1 (d) 2 (a) 3 (b) 4 (a) 5 (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 8 (a) 9 (a) 10 (d)
4 As the mass number of each a-particle 13 The reaction is 3 Li7 + 1 p1 ¾® 2 (2 He 4 ) 21 In practicle situation, atleast three
is 4 units and its charge is 2 unit. \ 4
E p = 2E (2 He ) - E ( Li) particles take place in transformation, so
Therefore for A 4 , Energy of b-particle + Energy of third
= 2 (4 ´ 7.06) - 7 ´ 5.6
Mass number = 180 - 8 = 172 particle = E1 - E2
= 56.48 - 39.2 = 17.28 MeV
and Z = 72 - 4 + 1 (due to b - ) = 69 Hence, energy of b-particle £ E1 - E2
14 Both fusion and fission reaction results
5 Since, N t1 = N 0e -lt1 and N t2 = N 0e -lt2 into tremendous amount of energy SESSION 2
Then, the number of atoms decayed release and nucleus/nuclei which has
l1 N 1 - l1 t
during the time interval t 1 to t 2 is higher binding energy per nucleon than 1 N2 = (e - e - l2 t )
parent nuclei. So, option (a) is correct. l2 - l1
= N t1 - N t2 = N 0 [e -lt1 - e -lt2 ]
When (T1 /2 )1 > (T1 /2 )2 at transient
15 Half-life and decay constant for a
6 As, l = l1 + l2 equilibrium, l1 < l2
nuclear reaction are related by a - l1 t
relation, which is e - l2 t < < e
1 1 1 t2 + t1
Þ = + = 0.693 - l1 t
t t1 t2 t1 t2 T1 /2 = l1 N 1e
\ N2 =
l l2 - l1
t1 t2 0.693 0.693
or t = Þ l= = = 0.0231 day -1 l1 N 1
t1 + t2 T1 /2 30 =
l2 - l1
7 After two half-lives 1/4 th fraction of 16 Number of half-lives N1 l - l1
\ = 2
nuclei will remain undecayed. Or, 3/4th t 200 N2 l1
fraction will decay. Hence, the n= = =2
T 100 0.693 0.693
probability that a nucleus decays in two -
The fraction left undecayed is given by 1 2 ´ 12 23
half-lives is 3 / 4 . n 2 = =
N æ1 ö æ1 ö 0.693 1
\ =ç ÷ =ç ÷
8 N 1 = N 0 - 1 N 0 = 2 N 0, N 0 è2 ø è2 ø 2 ´ 12
3 3
2 1 1
N2 = N 0 - N 0 = N 0 = = 25% 2 Energy generated by the reactor
4
3 3 1000 ´ 106 W = 109 Js -1
n
N2 æ1 ö 17 On adecay, charge number of parent
We have, =ç ÷ Total energy generated in 10 yr is
N1 è2 ø nucleus decreases by 2 units. As E = (109 Js -1 ) ´ 10 ´ 365
Here, n = 1 classification or grouping of elements is ´ 24 ´ 60 ´ 60
based on charge number, hence
\ t 2 - t 1 = one half-life = 20 min = 1.97 ´ 1030 MeV
daughter nucleus shifts two places to
9 The relation of mean-life and decay the left from the parent nucleus. In the reactor 200 MeV energy is
constant is, liberated in the fission of nucleus of U235
2 1
18 According to concept of binding energy,
t = 2t = , where t = atom.
fission can occur because the total mass
l l energy will decrease; that is DEbn \ Total number of U235 atoms required is
Then we get from the equation, (binding energy) will increase. We see
m = m 0e -lt that for high mass nuclide ( A = 240), the 1.97 ´ 1030
= 0.985 ´ 1028
binding energy per nucleon is about 200
Þ m = 10 ´ e -l ´2/l = 10 ´ e -2
7.6 MeV/nucleon. For the middle weight 1 kmol that is 235 kg of U235 has
= 10 ´ 0135
. = 135
. g nuclides ( A = 120), it is about 6.02 ´ 1026 atoms Therefore, total mass of
10 The fission of 92 U235 is represented by 8.5 MeV/nucleon. Thus, binding energy
U235 having 0.985 ´ 1028 atoms is
235 1 141 92
of fission fragments is larger than the
92 U + 0 n ® 56 Ba + 36 Kr 235
total binding energy of the parent ´ (0.985 ´ 1028 )
+3 0 n1 + Q nucleus. 6.02 ´ 1026
The name of the particle X is neutron 19 We know that half-life period T and = 3.84 ´ 103 kg
( 0 n1 ). decay constant l are related by the Since, efficiency of reactor is 10%, actual
equation. mass of U235 required is
11 Power received from the reactor is 0.6931
T = 100
P = 1000 kW …(i) (3.84 ´ 103 ) ´ = 3.84 ´ 104 kg
l 10
= 1000 ´ 1000 = 106 J s -1
While mean-life T m is related with l by
Also, 1 MeV = 1.6 ´ 10-13 J 3 As, - dN = lN ,
the equation dt
Number of nuclei fissioned per second 1 37. ´ 1010 ´ 3.6 ´ 104
Tm = …(ii) N =
106 l
= 0.693
200 ´ 1.6 ´ 10-13 From Eqs. (i) and (ii), we get DN = - (N 0 e - l ´ 10 ´ 3600
= 3.125 ´ 1016 s -1 T = 0.6931 T m - N 0 e - l ´ 9 ´ 3600 )
12 Binding energy or T < Tm
2
(Q DN = N 1 - N 2 )
BE = (M nucleus -M
nucleons )c 20 Here, Statement I is correct and . ´ 1014 ´ 3.6
37
= [0.535 - 0.5]
= (Mo - 8 M p - 9 M n )c 2 Statement II is wrong, which can be 0.693
directly concluded from binding energy = 6.91 ´ 1013
nucleon curve.
366 40 DAYS ~ JEE MAIN PHYSICS DAY THIRTY THREE