Problem 2. One of the concerns of using nuclear power for producing electricity, is that in...
Problem 2. One of the concerns of using nuclear power for producing electricity, is that in case of an accident radioactive isotopes will spread out and contaminate environment. Some possible contaminant include 137Cs, 134Cs, and 1 Half-lives of isotopes are: t1/2(13Cs) 30.17 years, t1/2(13 Cs) 2 years, t/2( 8.02 days. 1) Assuming that all the contaminants decay according to a beta(minus) decay process, write down the decay reactions for these 3 isotopes. Both isotopes of Cs produce Ba, and I produces Xe. 2) Assuming that concentration of all isotopes in air at the moment of contamination was the same, compute ratio between concentration of these 3 isotopes after 10 years. 3) Assuming that number of isotopes of each type is the same at the moment of contamination, calculate activity of the remaining isotopes after 10 years, if right after the release total activity was measured at 1.4-1019 Bq