PHYSICS-X CHAPTER# 19

NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Q 1: Write a short description about an atom.
ATOM: Atom is the unit of matter. It is considered to be the smallest particle of matter which
cannot exist freely.
NUCLEUS: The central dense part of the atom is nucleus. The diameter of nucleus is of the
order of 10-14 m. Protons and Neutrons reside in the nucleus.
PROTON: Proton is positively charged particle. The charge of proton is 1.6 x 10-19 C. The mass of
proton is 1.67 x 10-27 kg.
NEUTRON: Neutron is electrically neutral. Its mass is approximately equal to the mass of
proton.
ELECTRON: Electrons revolve around the nucleus in discrete orbits. They are negatively charged
particles. The charge of electron is the same as charge of proton that is 1.6 x 10-19 C. The mass
of electron is 9.11 x 10-31 kg.
ATOMIC NUMBER (CHARGE NUMBER): The number of protons or the number of electrons (in
stable state) is termed as atomic number of an atom. It is denoted by letter Z.
ATOMIC MASS: The sum of protons and neutrons is termed as atomic mass of an atom. It is
denoted by letter A and given as A=Z+N where N is number of neutrons.

Q 2: What is radioactivity? Describe an activity to separate Alpha Beta and Gamma

radiations.

RADIOACTIVITY: The spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus of such elements
which have atomic number greater than 82 such as Plutonium (Z=84), Radium (Z=88), Uranium
(Z=92) etc. is called radioactivity. Such nucleus are unstable by nature and emit powerful
radiation all the time.

ACTIVITY: Radiations emitted from radio-active elements are of three types named Alpha, Beta
and Gamma radiations. These can be separated by simple experiment.

A small quantity of a radioactive substance such as radium is placed in a cavity in a block of

lead so that the radiations from radium can come out only from the mouth of this cavity.

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A photographic plate is placed at some distance above the lead block so that radiations from
radium fall upon it. This apparatus is placed in a vacuum light chamber. This chamber then is
placed between the poles of a strong magnetic field. Under the action of magnetic field, two of
the three types of radiations are deflected. So three separate images are formed on the
photographic plate. One of these bend towards South. These particles are nuclei of Helium.
These radiation are known as Alpha particles. The second types of radiations are those which
bend toward North. These radiations consists of negatively charged particles which are actually
electrons. These radiation are known as Beta particles. The third type of radiation move in the
magnetic field without any deflection. Their nature is similar to light or X-Rays. These
radiations are known as Gamma rays.

Q 3: Write down properties of Alpha (α) radiations.

ALPHA (α) RAYS:
Experiments show that Alpha rays consist of such particles which are nuclei of Helium. These
rays possess the following properties.

 The mass of each Alpha particle is nearly four times the mass of Hydrogen nucleus
 The charge on each Alpha particle is positive and equal to twice the charge on Proton.
 The ionization capability of Alpha rays is very large.
 Alpha rays produce fluorescence in certain substances in certain substances.
 When these rays are allowed to pass through a thin metal foil e.g. a gold foil, some of
the rays are scattered through large angles.
 Alpha rays can induce artificial radio-activity in certain nuclei.
 These rays produce burn and sores on human body.
 Alpha rays get absorbed after passing through a small distance in air.

Q 4: Write down properties of Beta (β) radiations.

BETA (β) RAYS:
These rays consist of fast moving electrons. They possess the following properties:

 The kinetic energy of Beta rays is less than that of Alpha rays.
 These rays affect the photographic plate.
 These rays produce fluorescence easily, especially in Barium Platinocynide.
 Due to their small mass, these rays as compared to Alpha particles are easily scattered
by the nuclei of atoms.
 The ionization power of these rays is very small.
 The velocity of Beta rays is from 9 x 107 m/s to 27 x 107 m/s.

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NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Q 5: Write down properties of Gamma (ϒ) rays.
GAMMA (ϒ) RAYS:
Experiments show that these are electromagnetic waves similar to X-Rays. Some of their
properties are given below.

They produce feeble fluorescence when incident on a screen coated with Barium
Platinocynide.
 They eject electrons when incident on metals.
 The speed of these rays is equal to that of light.
 Like Alpha rays, these rays also get absorbed in various materials.
 Penetrating power of Gamma rays is very large. It is about hundred times larger than
that of Beta rays.
Q 6: What is half-life an element? Explain it with an example.
HALF LIFE OF AN ELEMENT:
The time interval in which half of the atoms of a sample of any given radioactive substance
decay into daughter element is known as “Half-life of an element”.

EXPLANATION: If we start with a sample of 100,000 atoms of radioactive element with half-life
of “T”, then after a lapse of “T” time, 50,000 atoms of the element will decay into daughter
element and the number of remaining parent atoms will be 50,000. After the lapse of another
period of time “T”, the number of atoms of the parent element will reduce to 25,000 and so on.
Different radioactive have different half-lives which may range from 1010 years to a fraction of a
second.

Q 7: Write a note on Einstein’s energy mass relation.

ENERGY-MASS RELATION
According to Einstein, mass and energy are associated. Mass is transformed into energy and
vice versa. According to him “the energy released by any material is directly proportional to its
mass.

i.e

Or ( )

( )

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NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Where “C” is constant of proportionality and is speed of light. Its value in S.I system is 3.0 x 108
m/s.

Q 8: What is nuclear fission?

NUCLEAR FISSION:
The process of splitting a heavy nucleus into lighter fragments with a release of enormous
amount of energy is called “nuclear fission”.

In the fission of Uranium , it is broken into two lighter fragments Barium , and
Krypton , with ejection of 3 neutrons and release of energy.

+ → + +3 + energy

Q 9: What is Fission chain reaction?

FISSION CHAIN REACTION:
In fission chain reaction, a slow moving neutron is bombarded on the Uranium nucleus .
It is broken into fragments i.e. Barium and Krypton and eject two to three
neutrons which further hit other Uranium nucleus and cause fission. Every time the Uranium
nucleus is broken, two to three neutrons are ejected. The process continues which produces
large amount of energy. This process is called “nuclear chain reaction”

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Q 10: What is nuclear fusion?
NUCLEAR FUSION:
The process in which two lighter nuclei are fused together to form a heavier nucleus with the
release of enormous amount of energy is called “nuclear fusion”.

When Deuterium and Tritium nuclei are brought together, they form helium nucleus
with the release of large amount of energy and a neutron. The process can be given as
follows

+ → + + energy

Q 11: Write a note on “Nuclear reactor”.

NUCLEAR REACTOR:
Nuclear reactor is a system in which controlled amount of heat energy is obtained from fission
process.

CONSTRUCTION: Nuclear reactor is composed of hollow tubes which are made up of graphite.
Uranium is used as fuel in these tubes. The whole system is shielded with a thick
concrete wall. The system is provided with an inlet from which cold water or cold gas enters
and converts into steam. The system is provided with an outlet from which pressurized steam is
released which is used to generate electricity. When temperature exceeds the limit, Boron rods
move into the tubes and absorb stray neutrons, thus fission reaction slows down and
temperature decreases. To re-enhance the fission reaction the Boron rods move up. Movement
of Boron rods is controlled by super computers.

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For a successful chain reaction, slow moving neutrons are required. Water or the cold gas which
enters from inlet slows down the speed of fast moving neutrons. This process is called
moderation thus water or cold gas in nuclear reactor works as moderator.

Q 12: Write down uses of isotopes in the field of industry, agriculture and medicine.
USES OF ISOTOPES:
USES OF ISOTOPES IN INDUSTRY:

 Isotopes are used to estimate wear and tear in machine tools.

 Radio isotopes are also widely used to check whether the thickness of material being
produced is constant or not.
 Cobalt-60 (Co-60) emits high energy Gamma radiations. It can be used to detect cracks
in welded joints.
 Radio isotopes are also used to detect leakages in pipes.
USES OF ISOTOPES IN AGRICULTURE:

 Verities of seeds for various agricultural needs have been produced after mutation
through radiations of isotopes.
 Isotopes are used to kill Bacteria to preserve food stuff.
 Radio Phosphorus-32 and radio Iodine-131 are used to determine the optimum amount

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of fertilizers and other nutrients intake by plants.
USES OF ISOTOPES IN MEDICINE:

 Radio Phosphorous-32 and radio Iodine-131 are used as tracer to trace out the path of
an element in the body.
 Iodine-131 is used for the study of Thyroid glands.
 Phosphorous-32 is used to locate the position of tumor in the brain.
 Radio Sodium has been extremely useful in tracing the blood circulation in the body.
 Radio Strontium has been found effective in the treatment of internal hemorrhages and
wounds.
Q 13: Describe radiation hazards.
RADIATION HAZARDS:
The destruction of the body cells is caused by the ionizing properties of the radiations. A body if
strongly irradiated by the radiation may suffer the following diseases.

 Anemia (A decrease in red blood corpuscles)

 Leukemia (An increase in white blood corpuscles), also called the blood cancer.
 Malignant tumors (These are such tumors which continue to grow one after one in the
body).
 Cataracts (Opacities of the lens of the eyes)

Q 14: Write down precautions to minimize radiation hazards.

PRECAUTIONS TO MINIMIZE RADIATION HAZARDS:
 One should keep a safe distance from the radiation emitting source.
 The doctors while giving treatment to the patients by radiations should take the
minimum possible time for radiation exposure.
 The radiations from a reactor are shielded by thick concrete walls.
 In a laboratory, where radio-active materials are handled, the radio-active substance is
covered in a lead box with a lid made up of lead.

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