From key@physics.utoronto.ca Wed Mar 19 23:08:03 2008
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:07:55 -0400
From: Tony Key <key@physics.utoronto.ca>
To: hanfei.luo@utoronto.ca
Subject: Re: PHY138 questions

Hi Hanfei - thanks for your questions.

If a certain volume of a radioactive liquid has a given activity, what do
you think would be the activity of twice the volume?  Obviously twice the
volume contains twice the number of radioactive nuclei.  Can you work it out
from these hints?

In question 5, calculate the speed of the alpha particle, knowing its
kinetic energy and mass - use classical mechanics.  If that speed is less
than 0.1 of the speed of light, then we don't need to use relativistic
equations.  For the calculation in this question you need use only classical
mechanics.

Yes, I sometimes ask for a derivation in the "long problems" - check out
some of the old tests and exams.

Hope this helps - let me know.

TonyK

hanfei.luo@utoronto.ca wrote:
> Dr. Key;
>   I have problems regarding to the Suggested Extra Problems SNIII 
> questions 2 and 5. for question 2, what is the relationship between
> radioactivity and volume? Does it have something to do with the moles and
> is the relationship a linear one? For question 5, I am not sure what are
> you asking. Do we need to understand relativity for that? We do know that
> alpha radiation is a quantum mechanical effect due to the tunneling
> phenomenoun but does this has anything to do with the question? And why is
> relativity concerned here?
>   And also, are we going to be asked to derive any equations for the 
> test and final exam? Thanks!
>
> Hanfei
>