JPPIPA 7(3) (2021)
Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA
Journal of Research in Science Education
http://jppipa.unram.ac.id/index.php/jppipa/index
___________
Email: pratiwianita387@gmail.com
Copyright © 2021, Author et al.
This open access article is distributed under a (CC-BY License)
Numerical Solution of Radioactive Core Decay Activity Rate of
Actinium Series Using Matrix Algebra Method
Anita Puji Pratiwi
1*
, Trapsilo Prihandono
1
, Sri Handono Budi Prastowo
1
1
Department of Physics Education, University of Jember, Jember, Indonesia
DOI: 10.29303/jppipa.v7i3.716
Article Info
Received: April 20
th
, 2021
Revised: July 2
th
, 2021
Accepted: July 7
th
, 2021
Abstract: The Actinium 235 series is one of the radioactive series which is widely used as a
raw material for reactors and nuclear activities. The existence of this series is found in
several countries such as West USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Russia, and Zaire.
The purpose of this study was to determine the activity value and the number of
radioactive nucleus decay atoms on the actinium 235 rendered in a very long decay time of
4.3 x 10
9
years. The decay count in this study uses an algebraic matrix method to simplify
the chain decay solution, which generally uses the concept of differential equations. The
solution using this method can be computationally simulated using the Matlab program.
This study indicates that the value of the decay activity experienced by each element in this
series is the same, which is equal to 2,636 x 10
11
Bq. This condition causes the actinium 235
series to experience secular equilibrium because the half-life of the parent nuclide is greater
than the nuclide derivatives. The decay activity of the radioactive nucleus under the
actinium 235 series is strongly influenced by the half-life of the nuclides, the decay
constants, and the number of atoms after decay.
Keywords: Actinium 235 Series; Chain Decay; Decay Activity; Matrical Algebra Method.
Citation: Pratiwi, A., Prihandono, T., & Prastowo, S. (2021). Numerical Solution of Radioactive Core Decay Activity Rate of
Actinium Series Using Matrix Algebra Method. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 7(3), 395-400.
doi:https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v7i3.716
Introduction
The actinium series is one of the natural
radionuclide series formed from the decay process of
the radioactive element Uranium-238. This series is one
of the types of elements that still exist in nature, even
though the amount is not as much as Thorium and
Uranium's elements. The decay stage of this series
starts with Actinium-235 and ends at the stable
actinium, namely Timbal-207. The parent of the
nuclides in the Actinium series has a half-life of 7.10 x
10
8
years (Sofyan et al., 2004). The Actinium 235 series is
used as raw material in Nuclear and actinium
installations. The fuel is part of the uranium series,
where the production of this fuel comes from pure
natural uranium (Uranite), which is processed into
yellowcake. Uranium ore (Yellowcake)itself contains
natural uranium contained pure isotope U-234, U-235,
and U-238. The required content of U-235 is 0.72% and
is enlarged again to 3% to be used on the HWR
actinium. These uranium seeds are found in the
Western USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Russia,
and Zaire, which are also used as fuel for actinium and
nuclear activities (Alatas et al., 2015).
The radionuclide series in the form of Actinium
235 series was found in all environmental media, one of
which was on the coast of Bengkalis Island. The
radinuclide activity of the actinium series in the area
has an average value that is still within reasonable
limits (Makmur., 2019). Noviarty (2017) also adds that
the radioactive activity of the actinium U-235 series
ranges from 0.013 Bq / g found in rocks around Batan