PHYS 1090: Fundamentals of the Physical Universe

Unit 9: Nuclei and Radioactivity
Due October 26, 2011
15 points

Answer one, and only one, of the following questions.

These questions are for you to combine different ideas from the unit and apply them to situations not directly addressed in class or in the textbook.  Think about the situation, and about the physics that applies to it.  See me for help if you are stuck.

  1. Gathering information.
  2. How did your group find the required information about your two nuclei?  Who did what, and what resources gave you the information you used?

  3. Beta decay.
  4. When an atomic nucleus undergoes beta-decay, what starting particle changes into what products? What is the electric charge of the starting particle?  What are the electric charges of the products?  What is the total charge of the products added together?

    Answer this question for both β− and β+ decay.

  5. Muddiest point.
  6. What part of this unit is least clear to you (the “muddiest point”)?  Explain as much as you do understand, and identify as well as you can what is confusing to you.

Take your choice of these tasks.  Do not submit answers to more than one of them.  Just choose one, and submit it.  Your answer should thoroughly address all points of the question.  An adequate answer will be several paragraphs long.

If you submit any part of this assignment as an HTML file or an electronic document, upload it (or them) to Sakai using the “Assignments” tool.  That way I will be able to find them easily and I will not tend to lose them.


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Revised: 24 October 2011.  Maintained by Richard Barrans.
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