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U20 ASSIGNMENT 1 (TASK 3) M1
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THIS IS TASK 3 OF UNIT 20 MEDICAL PHYSICS TECHNIQUES ASSINGNMENT 1, SO IT IS THE MERIT TASK (M1) REPORT.
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HALF LIFEHalf life in radioactivity, is the interval of time required for one-half of
the atomic nuclei of a radioactive sample to decay by emitting particles
and energy or, equivalently it is the time that is required for the
number of disintegrations per second of a radioactive sample. This is
because each radioactive material contains a stable and an unstable
nuclei. Stable nuclei don't change, but unstable nuclei undergo
radioactive decay, emitting alpha particles, beta particles or gamma
rays and eventually decaying into a stable nuclei. Half-life allows us to
tell the time required for half of the unstable nuclei to undergo their
decay process.
It is not possible to say which particular nucleus will decay next, but
given that there are so many of them, it is possible to say that a certain
number will decay in a certain time. Statistical methods could be used
to tell when half the unstable nuclei in a sample will have decayed.
Half-lives for various radioisotopes can range from a few
microseconds to billions of years. The half-life could be measured
using the aparatus.
Before the source is used the
background count rate is measured
using a Geiger Muller tube connected
to a counter. The count rate from the
source is then measured at regular
fixed intervals over a period of time.
Half-lives can be calculated from
measurements on the change in mass of a nuclide and the time it takes
to occur. The only thing we know is that in the time of that substance's
half-life, half of the original nuclei will disintegrate. Si, it helps you
understand the principles of radioactive decay. The formula to
calculate half life is
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous breakdown of an atomic nucleus
resulting in the release of energy and matter from the nucleus. A
radioisotope has unstable nuclei that does not have enough binding
energy to hold the nucleus together. So, with the wrong number of
neutrons, nuclei can fall apart. A nucleus will regain stability by
emitting alpha or beta particles and then 'cool down' by emitting
gamma radiation.
Examples of half-lifes:
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