Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear Decay Song on Youtube   Animation of Alpha, Beta, Gamma rays on youtube radioactive dating using Uranium on Youtube Animation Explain Why Nuclear decay and emissions occurs One Half-life to Live Song on Youtube

Lesson 2: Nuclear Decay Nuclear Radiation - Particles and energy released from decaying nucleus 3 types: Alpha particles (a) Beta particles (b) Gamma rays (g)

Alpha Particles particle that consists of two protons and two neutrons with an electric charge of +2 Like a Helium nucleus

Alpha Particles do not travel far due to: Massive size Are the least penetrating form of nuclear radiation

Beta Particles (b): electron emitted during the radioactive decay of a neutron into a proton

Beta Particles (b): travels further through matter than alpha particles fast moving because it is so small

Gamma Rays (g): high energy electromagnetic radiation emitted by a nucleus during radioactive decay

Gamma Rays (g): Have no mass and no charge can penetrate matter deeply, even buildings

Lesson 4: Half-life of radioactive Isotopes The length of time it takes half of the atoms of a sample of the radioactive isotope to decay Vary from fractions of a second to billions of years

Radioactive Decay Rates Radioactive decay is used to determine the age of old objects. Carbon-14 dating can be used to date once-living materials from the past 50,000 years Uranium dating cam be used to date rocks

Radioactive Decay Series for I-131

Radioactive Decay Series for I-131 Original sample

Radioactive Decay Series for I-131 1- half life

Radioactive Decay Series for I-131 2 – half lifes

Radioactive Decay Series for I-131 3 – half lives

Isotope Half - life Examples of Half-lifes for different Isotopes K-40 1,280,000,000 years Pt-239 24,120 years I-131 8.1 days Th-219 0.000 001 05 s

Lesson 5: Nuclear Reactions: Nuclear fission process of splitting a nucleus into two nuclei with smaller masses

Nuclear fission a large amount of energy is released Used in Nuclear reactors in power plants and submarines

Chain reaction – an ongoing series of Fission reactions

Nuclar Fusion Two nuclei with low masses are combined to form one nucleus of larger mass

Can only happen when nuclei are moving fast enough to get close to each other Temperature in stars (millions of °C) are high enough for fusion to occur

It is very difficult to contain the reaction. it must happen at temperatures greater than 108 oC, no known material could contain it without melting some success has been achieved by containing the reaction in a magnetic field

Dangers and Benefits of Nuclear Radiation Radioactive substances can be very useful , but when used carelessly, nuclear radiation can be extremely dangerous, even though we are exposed to some radiation everyday.

Dangers from Nuclear Radiation Background radiation causing radiation sickness causing genetic mutations

Benefits from Nuclear Radiation smoke detectors radioactive tracers in medicine radioactive material added to a substance so that its location can be detected later

Benefits to Nuclear Power does not produce gaseous pollutants that cause ozone depletion and acid rain Cheap to make electricity this way but expensive to build the power plant More energy in the known uranium reserves than in the known reserves of coal and oil

Dangers to Nuclear Power Radioactive products must be handled correctly Safety of the reactors Equip with shielding Storage of spent nuclear fuel