A 20 g sample of cobalt is irradiated in a power reactor with a flux of 1014 n/cm2/s for 6 years. Calculate (a) the activity of 60mCo immediately upon removal from the reactor and (b) the activity of 60Co 50 hours after removal. Assume no source depletion.
The answer for Part (a) = 11,600Ci 60mCo
The answer for Part (b) = 11,154Ci 60Co
Please show all steps and give a good explanation.
a) The activity of the sample after a time t of irradiation is given by
Where is the decay constant for the product = 0.131449 per year
is the flux = 1014 neutrons /cm2 s
N0 is the number of target atoms = 6.022*1023 * 20/60 = 2.00733*1023
is the absorption cross section = 37.2 barns.
So,
b) Activity after a time t is given by
(divide by 8760 to convert to hours)
The answer given in the book is wrong. Even if we put the value of answer from part A to part B, it will not get the provided answer.
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