Why nuclear radiations occur in atoms with large nucleus?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter abi.ayan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Atoms Nuclear Nucleus
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the occurrence of nuclear radiations in atoms, particularly focusing on why larger nuclei tend to undergo radioactive decay. Participants explore the role of the strong force and the balance between nuclear forces in both large and small nuclei.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that nuclear radiation in large nuclei may be due to the weakening of the residual strong force, questioning why this force weakens.
  • Others argue that radiation can also occur in smaller nuclei, citing examples like tritium (H-3) and carbon-14.
  • It is suggested that in large nuclei, the repulsion between protons increases faster than the binding energy provided by the strong force, leading to a higher likelihood of decay.
  • One participant notes that small nuclei with an unbalanced proton/neutron ratio can also be unstable.
  • Concerns are raised about tritium's radiation despite having only one proton, with explanations pointing to the imbalance between protons and neutrons as a contributing factor.
  • Another participant clarifies that the discussion about repulsion primarily pertains to alpha radiation found in larger nuclei, while noting that tritium can decay due to mass differences between protons and neutrons.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the mechanisms behind nuclear radiation in both large and small nuclei. The discussion remains unresolved, with differing opinions on the factors influencing decay.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on assumptions about the nature of nuclear forces and the specific conditions under which different isotopes may decay. The discussion does not resolve the complexities of these interactions.

abi.ayan
Messages
37
Reaction score
0
why nuclear radiations occur in atoms with large nucleus?Is it the weakening of residual strong force?
If so why it gets weak ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Radiation also occurs in atoms with a small nucleus, for example tritium (H-3) and carbon-14.
 
abi.ayan said:
why nuclear radiations occur in atoms with large nucleus?Is it the weakening of residual strong force?
If so why it gets weak ?
It does not get weak, but the repulsion between all those protons grows quicker than the binding due to the residual strong force*. Therefore, as a general tendency, very big nuclei are more likely to decay in some way.

*the binding energy due to the strong force is (approximately) proportional to the number of nucleons. On the other hand, every proton is repelling every other proton in the nucleus - this contribution grows with the squared proton number.

Small nuclei with a very unbalanced proton/neutron ratio are unstable, too.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
mfb said:
It does not get weak, but the repulsion between all those protons grows quicker than the binding due to the residual strong force*.

But in tritium atom there is only one proton.Hence there will be no repulsion.So why do it radiate??
 
abi.ayan said:
But in tritium atom there is only one proton.Hence there will be no repulsion.So why do it radiate??

Imbalance between protons and neutrons. A lone neutron radiates as well.

In fact, tritium atom radiates much less energy than a lone neutron does. A deuteron repels a proton, and that decreases the radiation energy of the extra neutron. Just not enough to stop the radiation altogether, like with lithium 7.
 
abi.ayan said:
But in tritium atom there is only one proton.Hence there will be no repulsion.So why do it radiate??
The part you quoted was about alpha radiation - something you mainly find at big nuclei.

Helium-3+electron+neutrino is lighter than tritium (the mass difference between protons and neutrons is relevant here), therefore tritium can decay.
 

Similar threads

Graduate How does the strong force loses its strength with distance?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
High School Why don't neutrons bind into large out of control masses?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
Undergrad Why the binding energy per nucleon has specific pattern?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
High School Why does the nucleus become unstable as the number of nucleons increases?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
Undergrad Decay constant of Different Elements and Isotopes?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Why Bremsstrahlung <20keV for Tungsten?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Undergrad Why is bremsstrahlung radiation greater than acceleration radiation?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Undergrad Why is Proton Radiation this Rare in Nuclear Fission Decay?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
High School What causes mass defect in the nucleus?
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
6K
High School Nuclear binding FORCE or ENERGY?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K