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Wilhem Rontgen
German physicist Discovered x-rays & studied ability of x-rays to penetrate solid materials Refused to file patents for his work on x-ray devices Winner of the 1st Nobel Prize in Physics (1901)
X-ray micrograph of Mrs. Roentgens hand (1895)
(1845-1923)
Types of Radiation
Alpha particles (a):
Helium nuclei positive charge Occurs when the nucleus of an atom ejects 2 protons & 2 neutrons (the identity of the atom changes!)
Half-Life
The nuclei of radioactive isotopes are unstable and inevitably decay to produce smaller nuclei (and some nuclear radiation) The half life (t1/2) of an isotope is the time it will take an isotope sample to decay to of its original value Examples:
t1/2 for 3H is 12.43 years t1/2 for 235U is 704 million years t1/2 for 14C is 5730 years
200
2 half-lives
3 half-lives
0 0 10 20
time (years)
30
40
50
60
Transmutation of Elements
When radioactive isotopes decay they become different elements. This process is called transmutation. Example 1: Decay of 14C to 14N 14C 14N + b {this is a beta decay} Example 2: Decay of 241Am to 237Np 241Am 237Np + a {this is an alpha decay}
Discovered the chain-reaction A project leader & important contributor on the Manhattan Project
is produced in the upper atmosphere as 14N is bombarded by cosmic rays The 14C drops to the earth where it is absorbed by plants and animals The 14C levels in an organism are constant throughout the organisms life (since it continuously adds and removes 14C through
nutrition & respiration)
14C
Carbon Dating
Radioactivity levels of 14C are measured & the level of decay from the original value is used to estimate the organisms age