00:01
For this problem on the topic of nuclear physics, we are given four well -known radioactive decay series, and for each we want to trace out the pathway and keep a count of the total number of alpha and beta emissions.
00:13
The first is the thorium decay series, the second the radium decay series, the third the actinium decay series, and lastly the neptuneium decay series.
00:24
So firstly, for a, starting at thorium th -t -h -2.
00:31
And we'll fill in the alpha and beta emissions afterward, we go to radium ra 228 to ac, 228 to th, 228 to ra, 224, to radon rn, 220, to pologium p -o -216, to lead p .o .216, to lead, p .b.
01:19
212 to b i 212 to p o 212 212 and lastly to p b to 08 and we can label the alpha and beta decays as follows so first we have an alpha followed by a beta minus decay and then another beta minus dk followed by alpha alpha alpha and then alpha and another alpha and then a beta minus a beta minus and then finally and your alpha decay.
02:10
So overall we have six alpha decays and four beta decays.
02:19
And so if we do the same thing for part b, we have uranium 238 going to th 234 to palladium pa 234 u -234 -2 -134 -th -h -230 ra 226 rn -r -n -2 -2 -0 -218 p -b -b -214 -bi -214 -bi -214 -p -b -14 -210 b i 210 polonium p o to 10 and finally led p b 206 and so again we can label the alpha and beta decays so first we have an alpha followed by beta minus beta minus alpha alpha alpha alpha alpha alpha beta minus beta minus alpha, beta minus, beta minus, and finally in alpha decay.
04:20
So again, if we count, we have eight alpha decays and six beta decays...