a general rule, the radioactivity from a particular radioisotope is considered to be reduced to a safe level after 10 half-lives have elapsed. (Obviously, the initial quantity of the isotope is also impor- tant.) By how much is the rate of emission of radiation reduced after 10 half-lives? Plutonium-239 is considered to be one of the most dangerous radioisotopes. Its half-life is about 25,000 years. How long would a sample of plutonium-239 have to be kept isolated it could be considered safe?

a general rule, the radioactivity from a particular radioisotope is considered to be reduced to a safe level after 10 half-lives have elapsed. (Obviously, the initial quantity of the isotope is also impor- tant.) By how much is the rate of emission of radiation reduced after 10 half-lives? Plutonium-239 is considered to be one of the most dangerous radioisotopes. Its half-life is about 25,000 years. How long would a sample of plutonium-239 have to be kept isolated it could be considered safe?

Modern Physics

3rd Edition

ISBN:9781111794378

Author:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer

Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer

Chapter13: Nuclear Structure

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 25P

See similar textbooks

Similar questions

What time interval elapses while 90.0% of the radioactivity of a sample of 3372As disappears as measured by its activity? The half-life of 3372As is 26 h.
Does the number of radioactive nuclei in a sample decrease to exactly half its original value in one halflife? Explain in terms of the statistical nature of radioactive decay.
If a 1.50cmthick piece of lead can absorb 90.0% of the rays from a radioactive source, how many centimeters of lead are needed to absorb all but 0.100% of the rays?
Data from the appendices and the periodic table may be needed for these problems. (a) Calculate the activity R in curies at 1.00 g of 226Ra. (b) Discuss why your answer is not exactly 1.00 Ci, given that the curie was originally supposed to be exactly the activity of a gram of radium.
Data from the appendices and the periodic table may be needed for these problems. Show that the activity of the 14C in 1.00 g of 12C found in living tissue is 0.250 Bq.
Check Your Understanding A radioactive nuclide has a high decay rate. What does this mean for its half-life and activity?
Tritium is naturally rare, but can be produced by the reaction n+2H3H+. How much energy in MeV is released in this neutron capture?
Which of the following is the correct daughter nucleus associated with the beta decay of 72184Hf? (a) 72183Hf (b) 73183Ta (c) 73184Ta
Check Your Understanding If the binding energy per nucleon is large, does this make it harder easier to strip off a nucleon from a nucleus?
Data from the appendices and the periodic table may be needed for these problems. A 60Co source is labeled 4.00 mCi, but its present activity is found to be 1.85107Bq. (a) What is the present activity in mCi? (b) How long ago did it actually have a 4.00—mCi activity?
A beam of 168MeV nitrogen nuclei is used for cancer therapy. If this beam is directed onto a 0.200kg tumor and gives it a 2.00Sv dose, how many nitrogen nuclei were stopped? (Use an RBE of 20 for heavy ions.)