Question

Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope used to treat cancers. A gamma ray emitted by this isotope has an energy of 1.33 MeV (million electron volts; 1 eV = 1.602 x 10¹⁹ J). What is the frequency (in Hz) and the wavelength (in m) of this gamma ray?

Answer 1

Answer:

E = 1.33 MeV = 2.13 x $10^{-13}$ J

v = wavelength = E / h = 2.13 x $10^{-13}$ / 6.626 x $10^{-34}$ = 3.2 x $10^{20}$ m

f = frequency = c / 3.2 x $10^{20}$ m = 3 x $10^{8}$ / 3.2 x $10^{20}$ = 9.375 x $10^{-13}$ Hz