OBJECTIVES
DOE-HDBK-1019/1-93
Atomic and Nuclear Physics
TERMINAL OBJECTIVE
2.0
Given necessary references, DESCRIBE the various modes of radioactive decay.
ENABLING OBJECTIVES
2.1
DESCRIBE the following processes:
a.
Alpha decay
d.
Electron capture
b.
Beta-minus decay
e.
Internal conversions
c.
Beta-plus decay
f.
Isomeric transitions
2.2
Given a Chart of the Nuclides, WRITE the radioactive decay chain for a nuclide.
2.3
EXPLAIN why one or more gamma rays typically accompany particle emission.
2.4
Given the stability curve on the Chart of the Nuclides, DETERMINE the type of
radioactive decay that the nuclides in each region of the chart will typically undergo.
2.5
DEFINE the following terms:
a.
Radioactivity
d.
Radioactive decay constant
b.
Curie
e.
Radioactive half-life
c.
Becquerel
2.6
Given the number of atoms and either the half-life or decay constant of a nuclide,
CALCULATE the activity.
2.7
Given the initial activity and the decay constant of a nuclide, CALCULATE the activity
at any later time.
2.8
CONVERT between the half-life and decay constant for a nuclide.
2.9
Given the Chart of the Nuclides and the original activity, PLOT the radioactive decay
curve for a nuclide on either linear or semi-log coordinates.
2.10
DEFINE the following terms:
a.
Radioactive equilibrium
b.
Transient radioactive equilibrium
NP-01
Page viii
Rev. 0
