Physics HL
Physics HL
5
Chapters
329
Notes
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme D - Fields
Theme D - Fields
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
IB Resources
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
Physics HL
Physics HL

Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics

Decay Chains & Radioactive Dating: From Uranium To Lead

Word Count Emoji
682 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

🔍 Main Idea: Atoms don't just vanish when they decay, they transform! In a decay chain, one element morphs into another, bit by bit, until we reach a stable one.

Decay Chains

  • Think of a domino effect but for atoms.
  • Example: Uranium-238 (U-238) → Lead-206 (Pb-206). But guess what? U-238 doesn’t just wake up one day and decide to become Pb-206 in a jiffy. It takes steps!
    • 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ Step-by-step decay!
  • Types of Decay
    • Alpha (α) - Throwing out a helium nucleus.
    • Beta (β) - A neutron becomes a proton, and an electron's tossed out.
  • End Goal: To reach a totally chill, completely stable element.
  • Fun Fact: It's not just uranium having all the fun; there's thorium and actinium too. Plus, some elements we humans made synthetically join the party.

What's in the Chain?

  • Think of each step as a link.
  • For U-238 decay
    • Stops include: 3 types of lead, 3 types of polonium, and 2 types of bismuth. Imagine them as stations on a train route!
  • 🖼️ Visual Check: Figure 24 - It's like a family tree but for elements.

Radioactive Growth

  • Not just about decay. What decays becomes something new!
  • Scenario 1: Stable Daughter (like your dependable friend who always has gum)
    • Graphs are a breeze. Daughter nuclei = Initial parents - Current parents.
  • Scenario 2: Unstable Daughter (like your friend who can't decide on a movie)
    • Parent A → Unstable Daughter B → Stable Element C
    • Graph game gets trickier. Why? A & B have their own decay vibes (constants).

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IB Resources
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
Physics HL
Physics HL

Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics

Decay Chains & Radioactive Dating: From Uranium To Lead

Word Count Emoji
682 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

🔍 Main Idea: Atoms don't just vanish when they decay, they transform! In a decay chain, one element morphs into another, bit by bit, until we reach a stable one.

Decay Chains

  • Think of a domino effect but for atoms.
  • Example: Uranium-238 (U-238) → Lead-206 (Pb-206). But guess what? U-238 doesn’t just wake up one day and decide to become Pb-206 in a jiffy. It takes steps!
    • 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ Step-by-step decay!
  • Types of Decay
    • Alpha (α) - Throwing out a helium nucleus.
    • Beta (β) - A neutron becomes a proton, and an electron's tossed out.
  • End Goal: To reach a totally chill, completely stable element.
  • Fun Fact: It's not just uranium having all the fun; there's thorium and actinium too. Plus, some elements we humans made synthetically join the party.

What's in the Chain?

  • Think of each step as a link.
  • For U-238 decay
    • Stops include: 3 types of lead, 3 types of polonium, and 2 types of bismuth. Imagine them as stations on a train route!
  • 🖼️ Visual Check: Figure 24 - It's like a family tree but for elements.

Radioactive Growth

  • Not just about decay. What decays becomes something new!
  • Scenario 1: Stable Daughter (like your dependable friend who always has gum)
    • Graphs are a breeze. Daughter nuclei = Initial parents - Current parents.
  • Scenario 2: Unstable Daughter (like your friend who can't decide on a movie)
    • Parent A → Unstable Daughter B → Stable Element C
    • Graph game gets trickier. Why? A & B have their own decay vibes (constants).

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Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Physics HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟

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