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Written Assignment 6
Define the following terms:
1.

Radioactive half-life: A period of time in which half of the nuclear of a

species of radioactive substance would decay.
2.
Correspondence principle: This principle states that the behavior of
systems described by the theory of quantum mechanics must be able to produce the
old classical physics laws. The new theory must give the same results as the old
theory, they must correspond if the old theory has been proven valid.
Example: Newton's and Einstein's view of gravity. Einstein couldnt change Newtons theory as
it had been proven valid. Therefore Einsteins theory was special to a particular circumstance.
This principle has been proven as a good rule in general throughout a variety of subject
matter.
3.

Schrodinger wave equation: An equation describes how matter waves

change under the influence of external forces. Schrodinger wave equation is a
differential equation and is considered to be the basic equation for the description of
non-relativistic material particles. It is used to calculate wave function in a given
situation. The Schrodinger wave equation is a central quantum mechanics as
Newtons equation of acceleration = force/ mass in classical mechanics. There are two
Schrodinger equations: time- dependent and time independent. These equations are
used to find the allowed energy levels of quantum mechanical systems such as atoms
or transistors.
4.
De Broglie matter waves. Formulated the de Broglie hypothesis,
establishing that all matter, not just light, has a wave-like nature. De Broglie wave or
matter wave is the wave of matter in quantum mechanics. Wavelength of a particle of
mass m traveling with speed v is given by

h
mv

2. Explain how "carbon dating" is used to establish the age of nonliving things.
As we know that the radioactive minerals of Uranium are used to determine the age of nonliving thing. Determining the amount of a radioactive isotope Carbon 14 helps to measure
the age of non-living thing. According to Hewitt, as cosmic rays entered to the Earth, they
transmuted atoms in out upper atmosphere. This created protons and neutrons which
spread throughout the environment and eventually collided with atomic nuclei in the dense
lower atmosphere. When the nitrogen captures a neutron, it becomes an isotope of carbon,
emitting the proton which recognized as Carbon -14, a radioactive isotope with 8 neutrons.
The half-life of Carbon-14 is 5730, which becomes present in all plants and animals. By
measuring the current level of radioactivity, archeologists are able to calculate the
approximate age based on measuring the carbon-14. This technology allows us to date
archeological finds back to 50,000 years ago.
3. State the number of neutrons and protons in each of the following nuclei:

a.
b.
c.
d.

H: The number of the proton is 1, and the number of neutron is 0.

79AU : The number of protons are 79 and the number of the neutrons are 100
14
6C : The number of proton are 6 and the number of neutrons are 14 6 = 8
239
92U : The number of protons are 92 and the number of neutrons are 239 92 =
160
1

179

4. When radium 226 decays emitting an alpha particle, what is the atomic number and atomic
mass of the resulting nuclei?
When the nucleus of an atom emits an alpha particle, it loses two protons and two neutrons. The
remaining nucleus will be atomic number 86 and its mass number will be 222.
5. If a sample of a radioactive isotope has a half-life of 3 years, how much of the original
sample will be left at the end of:
In order to find the current mass after the end of the certain time, we will use the following

1
formula: m half =m original 2

( Tt )

()

a.
b.
c.
d.

where t is time, and T is half-life.

3 years? At the end of 3 years, the sample will be of the original one.
6 years? At the end of 6 years the sample will be of the original one.
9 years? At the end of 9 years, the sample will be 1/8 of the original one.
15 years? At the end of 15 years, the sample will be 1/32 of the original one.

6. Define the following terms:

a. Quarks : An elementary building blocks of the nucleus matter.
b. Nucleon : Two constituents of nucleus, the proton and /or the neutron are referred
collectively as nucleons.
c. Lepton : Leptons are the particles that interact with a weak nuclear force. Those that
carry electric charge interact by means of electromagnetic force. Leptons include
electron, electron-neutrino, muon, muon-neutrino, tau and tau-neutrino. Each of
these particles also has its corresponding antimatter particle.
7. How are radioactive isotopes produced?
Radioactive isotopes can be produced a multitude of ways. The most common method is by
utilizing a nuclear reactor, which captures a neutron by the nucleus of an atom that results in
extra neutrons, making it neutron rich. Another method of production is by using a cyclotron in
which protons are introduced to a nucleus resulting in a deficiency of neutrons.

8. What is a radioactive tracer?

A radioactive tracer is a substance containing a radioisotope. An isotope containing an unstable
nucleus and stabilizes itself by spontaneously emitting energy and particles. A radioactive tracer
is also called a radioactive label.
Tracers can also be utilized to measure the speed of and track movement of a substance through
a natural system during chemical processes.