Demonstrations

Half Life - Isotope Generator

Code Number :	7D10.20
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: University of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Excellent
Principle :	Natural and Artificial Radioactive Sources
Area of Study :	Modern Physics
Equipment :	Nucleus counter and tube, isotope generator and kit, eluting solution.
Procedure :	Force about 1 ml of the eluting solution through the generator and collect 7 or 8 drops of the passed solution in one of the planchets. Immediately place disk in the tube holder and start the counter. Counting will be done for 10 thirty-second intervals for a total of 5 minutes. The half life of Barium 137M is 2.55 minutes (2 min, 33 sec). With a 661.6 keV gamma ray being emitted. NOTE: Background count should be determined before sample counting begins.

References

Art Hobson, "Hands-On Simulation", TPT, Vol. 42, # 3, March 2004, p. 132.

Kenneth E. Jesse, "Computer Simulation of Radioactive Decay," TPT, Vol. 41, # 9, Dec. 2003, pg. 542.

Stephen J. Fairman, Joseph A. Johnson, and Thomas A. Walkiewicz, "Fluid Flow with Logger Pro," TPT, Vol. 41, # 6, Sept. 2003, p. 345.

Alfred D. McKee and Paul Stengel, "The Minigenerator, An Evaluation", TPT, Vol. 8, # 8, Nov. 1970, p. 463.

Herbert H. Gottlieb, "Half-life Using Short-Lived Radioisotopes", TPT, Vol. 6, # 3, March 1968, p. 128.

K. Gopal, H. Sanjeevaiah, B. Sanjeevaiah, "A Laboratory Experiment for Determining the Partial Half-Life ⁴⁰K For Beta Emission", AJP, Vol. 40, # 4, Apr. 1972, p. 721.

J. M. Oottukulam and M. K. Ramaswamy, "Radioactive Half-Life Determination with an Isotope Generator," AJP, Vol. 39, 1971, p. 221.

Charles R. Rhyner, "More on Laboratory Isotope Generators," AJP, Vol. 39, Oct. 1971, p. 1274.

W. H. Snedegar and A. R. Exton, "Comment on 'Radioactive Half-Life Determination with an Isotope Generator'," AJP, Vol. 39, Oct. 1971, p. 1282.

M. K. Ramaswamy, "Reply to W. H. Snedegar and A. R. Exton," AJP, Vol. 39, Oct. 1971, p. 1282.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille