📚 Key Formula Derivations in Particles, Radiation and Radioactivity | 粒子、辐射与放射性中的关键公式推导
In the Oxford AQA International AS Level Physics topic of Particles, Radiation and Radioactivity, many of the central ideas are expressed through equations whose derivations reveal the underlying physical principles. This article walks through the step-by-step reasoning behind the key formulas — from specific charge to radioactive dating — so that you can use them with confidence and truly understand where they come from.
在Oxford AQA国际AS物理的粒子、辐射与放射性主题中,许多核心思想都通过方程来表达,这些公式的推导揭示了背后的物理原理。本文带领你一步步梳理关键公式的推理过程——从比荷到放射性定年——帮助你自信地运用这些公式,并真正理解它们的来源。
1. Specific Charge Derivation | 比荷推导
The specific charge of a particle is defined as the ratio of its charge q to its mass m. For a particle of charge q (in coulombs) and mass m (in kilograms), the specific charge is given by q/m, with units C kg⁻¹. For example, an electron has a charge of −1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C and a mass of 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ kg, so its specific charge is (−1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹) / (9.11 × 10⁻³¹) ≈ −1.76 × 10¹¹ C kg⁻¹. In many calculations we use the magnitude, as the sign simply indicates whether the particle is negatively or positively charged.
粒子的比荷定义为其电荷量 q 与质量 m 的比值。对于电荷为 q(单位库仑)、质量为 m(单位千克)的粒子,比荷表示为 q/m,单位是 C kg⁻¹。例如,一个电子带有 −1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C 的电荷,质量为 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ kg,因此其比荷为 (−1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹) / (9.11 × 10⁻³¹) ≈ −1.76 × 10¹¹ C kg⁻¹。在很多计算中我们使用绝对值,因为正负号仅表示粒子带正电还是负电。
The derivation is straightforward from the definition, but it is essential for comparing how easily particles are deflected in electric and magnetic fields. A larger specific charge means a greater acceleration for a given field strength. This concept is used in mass spectrometry and particle accelerators.
从定义出发的推导很直接,但对比较粒子在电场和磁场中偏转的难易程度至关重要。比荷越大,在给定场强下的加速度就越大。这一概念被应用于质谱分析和粒子加速器中。
specific charge = q / m
2. Exponential Decay Law Derivation | 指数衰变定律推导
Radioactive decay is a random process at the level of individual nuclei, but for a large number N of identical unstable nuclei the overall behaviour is predictable. The probability that any single nucleus decays within a short time interval Δt is proportional to Δt, with proportionality constant λ, called the decay constant. Hence the expected decrease in the number of nuclei −ΔN is proportional to both N and Δt: −ΔN = λ N Δt. In the limit Δt → 0, this becomes the differential equation dN/dt = −λ N.
放射性衰变在单个原子核层面上是随机过程,但对于大量相同的不稳定核 N,整体行为是可预测的。任意一个核在短时间间隔 Δt 内发生衰变的概率与 Δt 成正比,比例常数为 λ,称为衰变常量。因此核数量的预期减少量 −ΔN 与 N 和 Δt 均成正比:−ΔN = λ N Δt。当 Δt → 0 时,就得到微分方程 dN/dt = −λ N。
To solve this equation, we separate variables: (1/N) dN = −λ dt. Integrating both sides gives ln N = −λ t + C, where C is an integration constant. At t = 0, let N = N₀ (the initial number of nuclei). Then ln N₀ = C, so ln N − ln N₀ = −λ t, or ln(N / N₀) = −λ t. Exponentiating both sides yields the exponential decay law N = N₀ e−λt.
为了解这个方程,我们分离变量:(1/N) dN = −λ dt。两边积分得到 ln N = −λ t + C,其中 C 是积分常数。在 t = 0 时,设 N = N₀(初始核数目),则 ln N₀ = C,因此 ln N − ln N₀ = −λ t,即 ln(N / N₀) = −λ t。两边取指数就得到指数衰变定律 N = N₀ e−λt。
dN/dt = −λ N
N = N₀ e−λt
3. Activity Formula Derivation | 活度公式推导
The activity A of a radioactive sample is defined as the number of decays per unit time, which is the magnitude of the rate of decrease of nuclei: A = −dN/dt. From the decay law, we differentiate N = N₀ e−λt to obtain dN/dt = −λ N₀ e−λt = −λ N. Therefore, A = λ N. Since N itself decays exponentially, the activity also follows the same exponential behaviour: A = A₀ e−λt, where A₀ = λ N₀ is the initial activity.
放射性样品的活度 A 定义为单位时间内发生的衰变次数,即核数目减少率的绝对值:A = −dN/dt。从衰变定律出发,我们对 N = N₀ e−λt 求导,得到 dN/dt = −λ N₀ e−λt = −λ N。因此,A = λ N。由于 N 本身按指数衰减,活度也遵循同样的指数行为:A = A₀ e−λt,其中 A₀ = λ N₀ 是初始活度。
This shows that the activity at any time is directly proportional to the number of radioactive nuclei remaining, which is why activity measurements are used to study decay series and half-lives.
这表明任意时刻的活度与剩余放射性核数目成正比,这正是活度测量被用来研究衰变链和半衰期的原因。
A = −dN/dt = λ N
4. Half-Life Formula Derivation | 半衰期公式推导
The half-life t½ is the time required for the number of radioactive nuclei (or the activity) to fall to half its initial value. Setting N = N₀/2 in the decay law N = N₀ e−λt gives N₀/2 = N₀ e−λ t½. Cancelling N₀ and taking the natural logarithm of both sides yields ln(1/2) = −λ t½. Since ln(1/2) = −ln 2, we obtain ln 2 = λ t½. Hence the half-life is t½ = ln 2 / λ.
半衰期 t½ 是放射性核数目(或活度)降至初始值一半所需的时间。将 N = N₀/2 代入衰变定律 N = N₀ e−λt 中,得到 N₀/2 = N₀ e−λ t½。消去 N₀ 并两端取自然对数,得到 ln(1/2) = −λ t½。因为 ln(1/2) = −ln 2,于是有 ln 2 = λ t½。因此半衰期为 t½ = ln 2 / λ。
This simple relation shows that the half-life is inversely proportional to the decay constant: a large λ (rapid decay) means a short half-life. It is independent of the initial number of nuclei, making it a characteristic property of each radioactive isotope.
这一简单关系表明半衰期与衰变常量成反比:大的 λ(快速衰变)意味着短的半衰期。它与初始核数目无关,因此是每种放射性同位素的特征属性。
t½ = ln 2 / λ
5. Mass–Energy Equivalence and Binding Energy | 质能方程与结合能推导
Einstein’s mass–energy equivalence principle states that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, as described by E = mc². In nuclear physics, this relation is used to calculate the binding energy of a nucleus. The mass defect Δm is the difference between the total mass of the separate protons and neutrons and the actual mass of the nucleus: Δm = Z mp + N mn − mnucleus, where Z is the proton number and N the neutron number. The binding energy is then Ebind = Δm c².
爱因斯坦的质能等价原理指出质量可以转化为能量,反之亦然,如公式 E = mc² 所述。在核物理中,这一关系被用来计算原子核的结合能。质量亏损 Δm 是各自分离的质子和中子的总质量与原子核实际质量之差:Δm = Z mp + N mn − mnucleus,其中 Z 是质子数,N 是中子数。结合能即为 Ebind = Δm c²。
In practice, nuclear masses are often given in atomic mass units (u), and the energy equivalent is 1 u = 931.5 MeV. For example, the mass defect for helium‑4 is about 0.0304 u, giving a binding energy of approximately 28.3 MeV. This binding energy is the energy needed to separate a nucleus into its individual nucleons, and it explains the stability of nuclei.
实践中,核质量常以原子质量单位(u)给出,其能量当量为 1 u = 931.5 MeV。例如,氦‑4的质量亏损约为0.0304 u,对应的结合能大约为28.3 MeV。结合能是将原子核拆散成单个核子所需的能量,它解释了原子核的稳定性。
E = m c²
Ebind = (Z mp + N mn − mnucleus) c²
6. Energy Released in Nuclear Decay | 核衰变释放能量推导
In alpha or beta decay, the total mass of the products is less than the mass of the parent nucleus; the missing mass appears as kinetic energy of the products (and sometimes as gamma‑ray photons). The Q‑value of a decay is the net energy released: Q = (mparent − mdaughter − memitted particle) c². For an alpha decay such as
²³⁸₉₂U → ²³⁴₉₀Th + ⁴₂He
the Q‑value is calculated from the mass difference. If the masses are known in atomic mass units, the energy in MeV is found using 1 u = 931.5 MeV.
在 α 或 β 衰变中,生成物的总质量小于母核质量;亏损的质量表现为生成物的动能(有时还有 γ 光子)。衰变的 Q 值是净释放能量:Q = (mparent − mdaughter − memitted particle) c²。对于 α 衰变,例如
²³⁸₉₂U → ²³⁴₉₀Th + ⁴₂He
Q 值由质量差计算得出。如果质量以原子质量单位给出,则可用 1 u = 931.5 MeV 计算出以 MeV 为单位的能量。
The derivation follows directly from conservation of energy: the total energy before decay equals the total energy after, so the difference in rest mass energies appears as kinetic energy. This release of energy is what makes radioactive decay useful in power generation and medical treatments.
这一推导直接从能量守恒得出:衰变前的总能量等于衰变后的总能量,因此静止质量能量的差值表现为动能。这种能量的释放正是放射性衰变用于发电和医学治疗的原因。
Q = (mparent − mdaughter − mα) c²
7. Decay Constant as a Probability | 衰变常数的概率意义推导
The decay constant λ is often described as the probability per unit time that a given nucleus will decay. This interpretation follows from the relation −ΔN = λ N Δt for a small interval Δt. The fraction of nuclei that decay in Δt is −ΔN/N = λ Δt, so for a single nucleus the probability of decaying in Δt is λ Δt. Hence λ itself represents the decay probability per unit time. Because radioactive decay is a random process, the lifetime of any particular nucleus is not fixed, but the average lifetime τ (mean lifetime) can be derived by averaging the decay times weighted by the number decaying at each instant. This calculation gives τ = 1/λ.
衰变常量 λ 常被描述为单位时间内某个给定核发生衰变的概率。这一解释源于短时间内隔 Δt 内的关系式 −ΔN = λ N Δt。在 Δt 内衰变的核所占比例为 −ΔN/N = λ Δt,因此对单个核来说,在 Δt 内衰变的概率就是 λ Δt。因而 λ 本身代表单位时间内的衰变概率。由于放射性衰变是一个随机过程,任一特定核的寿命并不固定,但可以通过对各个时刻衰变数目进行加权平均来推导出平均寿命 τ(平均存活时间)。这一计算给出 τ = 1/λ。
The mean lifetime is the time after which the number of nuclei falls by a factor of e (= 2.718…), confirming that a large decay constant corresponds to a short mean lifetime and short half‑life. This probabilistic view unifies the macroscopic decay law with the microscopic randomness.
平均寿命是核数目降至原来的 1/e(≈2.718…) 倍所需的时间,证实了大的衰变常量对应短的平均寿命和短的半衰期。这种概率观点把宏观的衰变定律与微观的随机性统一了起来。
τ = 1/λ
8. Radioactive Dating (Carbon‑14) Formula | 放射性定年(碳‑14)公式推导
Radioactive dating relies on the decay law N = N₀ e−λt. For carbon‑14 dating, living organisms continuously exchange carbon with the atmosphere, maintaining a constant ratio of ¹⁴C to ¹²C. When the organism dies, exchange stops and the ¹⁴C decays with a half‑life of about 5730 years. The initial number of ¹⁴C nuclei N₀ can be inferred from the present‑day ratio in the atmosphere, while N is the number measured in the sample. Rearranging the decay law gives t = (1/λ) ln(N₀ / N). Since λ = ln 2 / t½, the formula becomes t = (t½ / ln 2) ln(N₀ / N) = t½ × log₂(N₀ / N). Thus the age of the sample is determined purely from the ratio of the initial to the present number of radioactive nuclei.
放射性定年依赖于衰变定律 N = N₀ e−λt。对于碳‑14定年,活着中的生物体不断与大气交换碳元素,保持恒定的 ¹⁴C 与 ¹²C 比值。当生物体死亡后,交换停止,¹⁴C 以约5730年的半衰期衰变。初始的 ¹⁴C 核数目 N₀ 可由现今大气中的比值推知,而 N 则是样品中测量得到的数量。将衰变定律重新整理可得 t = (1/λ) ln(N₀ / N)。由于 λ = ln 2 / t½,该式变为 t = (t½ / ln 2) ln(N₀ / N) = t½ × log₂(N₀ / N)。因此样品的年龄完全由初始与现存放射性核数目之比确定。
This derivation shows that carbon dating is an application of the exponential decay law, requiring a known half‑life and an assumed initial ratio. It explains how geologists and archaeologists determine the age of organic remains up to about 50 000 years.
这一推导表明碳定年是指数衰变定律的一种应用,需要已知半衰期并假设初始比值。它解释了地质学家和考古学家如何测定大约5万年以内的有机遗骸年代。
t = (1/λ) ln(N₀ / N) = t½ × log₂(N₀ / N)
9. Power from Radioactive Sources | 放射性源功率推导
A radioactive source with activity A emits particles or photons, each carrying a certain average energy E per decay. If all the emitted energy is absorbed, the power P deposited in an absorber (or the total radiated power) is simply the product of the activity and the energy per decay: P = A × E. Since A = λ N, this can also be written as P = λ N E. In more realistic situations, only a fraction of the energy may be absorbed, but the basic derivation shows the proportionality between power and activity.
一个活度为 A 的放射源发射粒子或光子,每次衰变均带有一定的平均能量 E。如果所有释放的能量都被吸收,那么吸收体中沉积的功率(或总辐射功率)就是活度与每次衰变能量的简单乘积:P = A × E。因为 A = λ N,这也可以写成 P = λ N E。在更实际的情况下,可能只有一部分能量被吸收,但基本推导显示了功率与活度之间的正比关系。
This relationship is used,
Published by TutorHao | AS Physics Revision Series | aleveler.com
更多咨询请联系16621398022(同微信)