The air in some caves includes a significant amount of radon gas, which can lead to lung cancer if breathed over a prolonged time. In British caves, the air in the cave with the greatest amount of the gas has an activity per volume of 1.55 * 105 Bq/m3. Suppose that you spend two full days exploring (and sleeping in) that cave. Approximately how many 222Rn atoms would you take in and out of your lungs during your two-day stay? The radionuclide 222Rn in radon gas has a half-life of 3.82 days. You need to estimate your lung capacity and average breathing rate.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction. In nuclear fusion, two or more than two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. During this process, an enormous amount of energy is released. This energy is called nuclear energy. Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the sun and stars.
Fusion Bomb
A fusion bomb is also known as a thermonuclear bomb or hydrogen bomb which releases a large amount of explosive energy during a nuclear chain reaction when the lighter nuclei in it, combine to form heavier nuclei, and a large amount of radiation is released. It is an uncontrolled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction where isotopes of hydrogen combine under very high temperature to form helium. They work on the principle of operation of atomic fusion. The isotopes of Hydrogen are deuterium and tritium, where they combine their masses and have greater mass than the product nuclei, get heated at high temperatures, and releases energy.
The air in some caves includes a significant amount of radon
gas, which can lead to lung cancer if breathed over a prolonged
time. In British caves, the air in the cave with the greatest amount
of the gas has an activity per volume of 1.55 * 105 Bq/m3. Suppose
that you spend two full days exploring (and sleeping in) that cave.
Approximately how many 222Rn atoms would you take in and out
of your lungs during your two-day stay? The radionuclide 222Rn in
radon gas has a half-life of 3.82 days. You need to estimate your
lung capacity and average breathing rate.
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