University of Namibia, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics

Physics for Physical Sciences II (PHY3512) — Tutorial 5

Demonstrate your understanding clearly

Question 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total: 5
A concave shaving mirror has a radius of curvature of 35.0 cm. It is positioned so that the
(upright) image of a man’s face is 2.5 times the size of the face. How far is the mirror from
the face?

Solution:
1 1 1 35.0 cm
+ = r = 2f ⇒ f =
p i f 2
i
m=− V i = −m p
p
1 1 1
⇒ − =
p mp 0.5r
1 p 1
(1 − )= or 0.5r(1 − ) = p
m 0.5r m
35.0 cm 1
p= (1 − ) = 10.5 cm
2 25

Question 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total: 3
Light in vacuum is incident on the surface of a glass slab. In the vacuum, the beam makes
an angle of 32◦ with the normal to the surface, while in the glass it makes an angle of 21.0◦
with the normal. what is the index of refraction of the glass?

Solution:
 n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2
n1 = 1.0 in vacuum.
sin θ1
n2 = n2 − index of refraction of glass
sin θ2
sin 32.0◦
⇒ n2 = = 1.48
sin 21.0◦

Question 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total: 6
What is the binding energy per nucleon of the plutonium isotope 239 94 Pu in units of MeV?
Here are some atomic masses and the neutron mass as well as the relevant conversion units.
239 Pu239.052 16 u
1H 1.007 825 u
n 1.008 67 u
1u = 1.6605 ×10−27 kg
1 eV = 1.602 ×10−19 J

Solution:

B.E. = (ZmH + Nmn − Matom )c2

A = 239, Z = 94
⇒N = A − Z = 145

Thus

B.E. = [94(1.007825 u) + 145(1.00867 u) − 239.05216 u](3.00 × 108 m s−1 )2

Converting from atomic mass units (u) to Kilograms, we have

B.E. = 1.94054 u × 1.6605 × 10−27 kg/u × (3.00 × 108 m s−1 )2 = 2.90 × 10−10 J

In units of M eV :
1eV 1M eV
B.E. = 2.90 × 10−10 J × −19
× 6
1.602 × 10 J 10 eV
B.E B.E 1810.24 MeV
= = = 7.57 MeV/nucleon
nucleon 239 239

Question 4 .................................................................... Total: 6

A radioactive isotope of mercury, 197 Hg, decays to gold, 197 Au, with a disintegration constant
of 0.0108 h−1 . (a) Calculate the half-life of the 197 Hg. What fraction of a sample will remain
at the end of (b) three half-lives and (c) 10.0 days?

Solution:
(a)
0.693 0.693
λ = ⇒ t1/2 =
t1/2 λ
0.693
= h
0.0108

= 64.17 h

(b)

3 half − lives = 64.17 h × 3

= 192.5 h

Fraction given by

N/N0 = e−λt
h−1 )(192.5 h)
= e−(0.0108
= 0.125

(c)
10 days = 240 h
Thus fraction:
N h−1 )(240 h)
= e−(0.0108
N0
= 0.0749
Question 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total: 8
Consider an initially pure 3.4 g sample of 67 Ga, an isotope that has a half-life of 78 h. (a)
What is its initial decay rate? (b) What is its decay rate after 48 h later?
Helpful relations:
m(67
31 Ga) = 66.928 u

NA = 6.02 × 1023 mol−1 (1)

Solution:
Number of nuclei N in 3.4 g of 67 Gal:

m 3.4 g
N0 = × NA = × 6.02 × 1023 mol−1
M 66.928 g/mol

Decay rate:

R = R0 e−λt , R0 = λN0 ,
0.693 0.693
λ = = = 8.88 × 10−3 h−1
t1/2 78 h
0.693 0.693
R = (3.058 × 1022 )e−( 78 h 0 h)
78 h
= 2.7169 × 1020 h−1
= 7.5 × 1016 s−1

(b) After 48 hours:

0.693 0.693
R = (3.058 × 1022 )e−( 78 h 48 h)
78 h
= 1.7736 × 1020 h−1
= 4.9 × 1016 s−1

Maximum points 28
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