College Physics
College Physics
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168000
Author: Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
Publisher: OpenStax College
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Chapter 31, Problem 18CQ

In a 3 × 10 9 −year−old rock that originally contained some 238U, which has a half−life of 4.5 × 10 9 years, we expect to find some 238U remaining in it. Why are 226Ra, 222Rn, and 210Po also found in such a rock, even though they have much shorter half−lives (1600 years, 3.8 days, and 133 days, respectively)?

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Consider the decay of 235U → 231Th → 231Pa, with a half-life of 7.038x108 years for 235U and 25.5 hours for 231Th. Suppose you have a sample with 10 mCi of 235U. Calculate and plot the activities of the father and daughter as a function of time (assume the granddaughter is stable) between t = 0 and 1000 hours. If you find it convenient, use a logarithmic scale. What kind of balance is there and why? In the graph, indicate the time tm (remember tm = [1/( λ2 - λ1)] [ln(λ2 / λ1]) in which the daughter reaches her maximum activity and verify that it coincides with the analytical expression calculated in class.
235U decays to 207Pb via the decay series as shown. The first decay in the chain, that of 235U, has a halflife of 7.0 × 108 years. The subsequent decays are much more rapid, so we can take this as the half-life for the complete decay of 235U to 207Pb. Certain minerals exclude lead but not uranium from their crystal structure, so when the minerals form they have no lead, only uranium. As time goes on, the uranium decays to lead, so measuring the ratio of lead atoms to uranium atoms allows investigators to determine the ages of the minerals. If a sample of a mineral contains 3 atoms of 207Pb for every 1 atom of 235U, how many years ago was it formed?
If 232Th (half-life 1.4 × 1010 years) and 238U (half-life 4.5 × 109years) werepresent in equal amounts when the earth was formed, calculate their relative abundance atpresent. Note: The age of the earth is 4.54 billion years. NTh(t)/NU(t)= ?

Chapter 31 Solutions

College Physics

Ch. 31 - The weak and strong nuclear forces are basic to...Ch. 31 - Define and make clear distinctions between the...Ch. 31 - What are isotopes? Why do different isotopes of...Ch. 31 - Star Trek fans have often heard the term...Ch. 31 - What conservation law requires an electron’s...Ch. 31 - Neutrinos are experimentally determined to have an...Ch. 31 - What do the three types of beta decay have in...Ch. 31 - In a 3109 yearold rock that originally contained...Ch. 31 - Does the number of radioactive nuclei in a sample...Ch. 31 - Radioactivity depends on the nucleus and not the...Ch. 31 - Explain how a bound system can have less mass than...Ch. 31 - Spontaneous radioactive decay occurs only when the...Ch. 31 - To obtain the most precise value of BE from the...Ch. 31 - How does the finite range of the nuclear force...Ch. 31 - Why is the number of neutrons greater than the...Ch. 31 - A physics student caught breaking conservation...Ch. 31 - When a nucleus (decays, does the (particle move...Ch. 31 - The energy of 30.0 eV is required to ionize a...Ch. 31 - A particle of ionizing radiation creates 4000 ion...Ch. 31 - (a) Repeat Exercise 31.2, and convert the energy...Ch. 31 - Suppose a particle of ionizing radiation deposits...Ch. 31 - Verify that a 2.31017kg mass of water at normal...Ch. 31 - Find the length of a side of a cube having a mass...Ch. 31 - What is the radius of an (particle?Ch. 31 - Find the radius of a 238Pu nucleus. 238Pu is a...Ch. 31 - (a) Calculate the radius of 58Ni, one of the most...Ch. 31 - The unified atomic mass unit is defined to be...Ch. 31 - What is the ratio of the velocity of a (particle...Ch. 31 - If a 1.50cmthick piece of lead can absorb 90.0% of...Ch. 31 - The detail observable using a probe is limited by...Ch. 31 - (a) Show that if you assume the average nucleus is...Ch. 31 - What is the radio of the velocity of a 5.00MeV...Ch. 31 - (a) What is the kinetic energy in MeV of a ray...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - In the following eight problems, write the...Ch. 31 - decay producing 137Ba. The parent nuclide is a...Ch. 31 - ( decay producing 90Y. The parent nuclide is a...Ch. 31 - decay producing 228Ra. The parent nuclide is...Ch. 31 - decay producing 208Pb. The parent nuclide is in...Ch. 31 - When an electron and position annihilate, both...Ch. 31 - Confirm That charge, electron family number, and...Ch. 31 - Confirm that charge, electron family number, and...Ch. 31 - Confirm that charge, electron family number, and...Ch. 31 - Confirm that charge, electron family number, and...Ch. 31 - A rare decay mode has been observed in which 222Ra...Ch. 31 - (a) Write the complete a decay equation for 226Ra....Ch. 31 - (a) Write the complete a decay equation for 249Cf....Ch. 31 - (a) Write the complete decay equation for the...Ch. 31 - (a) Write the complete decay equation for 90Sr,...Ch. 31 - Calculate the energy released in the + decay of...Ch. 31 - (a) Write the complete + decay equation for llC....Ch. 31 - (a) Calculate the energy released in the a decay...Ch. 31 - (a) Write the complete reaction equation for...Ch. 31 - (a) Write the complete reaction equation for...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - Data from the appendices and the periodic table...Ch. 31 - 2H is a loosely hound isotope of hydrogen. Called...Ch. 31 - 56Feis among the most tightly bound of all...Ch. 31 - 209Bi is the heaviest stable nuclide, and its BE/A...Ch. 31 - (a) Calculate BE/A for 235U, the rarer of the two...Ch. 31 - (a) Calculate BE/A for 12C. Stable and relatively...Ch. 31 - The fact that BE/A is greatest for A near 60...Ch. 31 - The purpose of this problem is to show in three...Ch. 31 - Unreasonable Results A particle physicist...Ch. 31 - Derive an approximate relationship between the...Ch. 31 - Integrated Concepts A 2.00T magnetic ?eld is...Ch. 31 - (a) Write the decay equation for the decay of...Ch. 31 - Unreasonable Results The relatively scarce...Ch. 31 - Unreasonable Results A physicist scatters (rays...Ch. 31 - Unreasonable Results A frazzled theoretical...Ch. 31 - Construct Your Own Problem Consider the decay of...

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