Radioactivity Definition and 119 Threads

1) Methods/equipment for radioactivity detection. For my high-school Chemistry studies, needs clarification. Geiger counter: A small chamber contains a high voltage electric field inside filled with inert gas. When ionizing particles/radiation enters the chamber, it will ionise the...

Sorry if this is in the wrong section or something, haven't been to this forum for over a year. Ok, I am studying AS Physics at college, and we are on the radioactivity unit. The group I am in has a really really rubbish lecturer, and I don't think she has explained things very well. We...

i have been given an equation of, delta(N) = N(t).delta(t)/T where N(t) is the number of atoms left at time t, and T is the half life. Using a constant time and variable half lifes i have to come up with a formula to calculate the remaining atoms left over. the formula i was able to...

I have 3 questions dealing with radioactivity: Q1. Which particle, alpha or beta, is least massive? A1. well alpha particles are emitted as 4,2 Helium nuclei and beta particles are emitted as either electrons or positrons. So would the beta particles be least massive? Q2: Do all alpha...

What forces are actually involved in radioactivity other than the weak nuclear force? And would anyone know any nice animations that one could view on the net of radioactive decay processes? Thanks

It is necessary to determine the strength of a radioactive source. Counting equipment has been made available for only two hours. How should the time be schedule if: The net source counting rate is 7 times the background rate. I mean I would say that you would use relatively short counting...

You are told that potassium 44 has a half life of 20 minutes and decays to form calcium 14. Q1. how many atoms would there be in a 10mg sample of potassium? Answer: I used avogadro's constant to find this by: (6E23/44)*10E-3 = 1.4E20 atoms Q2. what would be the activity of the sample...

First off I am sorry for asking this question , as I am sure I am way off base. I collect high end pocket knives and some of the blades have become a little magnetized; so i found a demagnetizer that uses NdFeB30 magnets, which are rare earth? MY question is this, if i rub the demagnetiser over...

Till now i have not found any decent site/article/book that actually answers my question of why certain atoms such as Uranium 235/238 and carbon-14 break up spontaneously while others are relatively stable. Could someone perhaps suggest a book or website or article that explains this (i am...

Hello, anyone know a website to find the background rate of Cesium?

is radioactivity decay reversible or irreversible?

I've been reading about radioactivity, but I can't seem to find what actually makes an atom unstable. Can anyone tell me?

What is it about the density of a substance that makes it more resistant to allowing radioactivity to pass through it? Since most of the atom is empty space?

Strange radioactivity question. please help fast! I know this is in the k-12 forum too but i wasnt sure if this is college level stuff or not so sorrie if this is in the wrong forum. And I am not telling u to do this for me, i just want to know some equations and anything that wuld help...

Strange radioactivity question. please help fast! well, this is a strange question that i have to do a presentation on. I thought it would be easy but i can't find any information after looking through 2 major physics books and searching online. I even asked a tutor about this and still...

well, this is a strange question that i have to do a presentation on. I thought it would be easy but i can't find any information after looking through 2 major physics books and searching online. I even asked a tutor about this and still couldn't get any equations i could use. Plz don't bash me...

What makes nuclei disintegrate at a certain point in time as opposed to another? As in, what is the fundamental reason for disintegration finally happening in an unstable nucleus?

This may be a dumb question: What is it about radioactivity that caused them to name it "radioactive"? All I was taught was that radioactivity is an emission of gamma particles, beta particles, or alpha particles. I don't remember anything about radio wavelength photons.

a radioactive with a half-life of 5 days, has an initial activity of 4000 counts/min determine the activity after 10 days well because 1 half life is 5 days, so 10 days must be 2 so 4000/(2^2) =1000 counts/min is that right? 2. If the initial quantitiy of radioactive material is...