Using the chart of nuclides, show ALL the radioactive decay chains that take U232 into stable isotopes. (Show this decay chain pictorially as it appears on the Chart of the Nuclides, with the number of protons on the vertical axis and number of neutrons on the horizontal axis, in the same way as was shown for the Th232 decay chain in the second lecture. Do not simply write the equations down.)

a) Write the differential equations for the first three nuclides in this chain and define the terms.

b) Identify the type and numerical value for each decay constant for each of the first three steps, in units of seconds^-1 .

c) Explain how this decay chain illustrates the general idea of the valley of stability.