17. Radioactivity

Question 1

What does an atom consists of?

Answer 1

1. Protons and Neutrons in the nucleus
2. Electrons moving rapidly around the nucleus
3. Proton charged +1
4. Neutron 0
5. Electron -1

Question 2

What is a proton number?

Answer 2

It is the amount of proton consist inside an atom

Question 3

What is a nucleon number?

Answer 3

It is the total number of neutron and proton in the nucleus

Question 4

What are isotopes?

Answer 4

Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons

Question 5

Explain what is nuclear decay?

Answer 5

It is a random process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses its energy by emission of electromagnetic radiation of particle(s)

Question 6

What are alpha particles nuclear emission

Answer 6

1. Consists of two protons and two neutrons, they are identical helium nucleus
2. Highest Relative Ionising effect
3. Lowest Relative penetrating ability

Question 7

What are Beta particles nuclear emission

Answer 7

1.A Beta particle is a fast-moving electron ejected from a radioactive nucleus
2. Medium amount of relative ionising effect and penetrating effect

Question 8

What gamma ray nuclear emission?

Answer 8

1. A gamma ray is an electromagnetic radiation emitted by a nucleus with excess energy
2. Lowest relative ionising effect
3. Highest relative penetrating effect

Question 9

What is ionising radiation?

Answer 9

Ionising radiation is radiation with high energies that can knock off electrons from atoms to form ions

Question 10

What is background radiation?

Answer 10

Background radiation refers to nuclear radiation in an environment where no radioactive source has been deliberately introduced

Question 11

How to measure ionising nuclear radiation?

Answer 11

1. Remove all known radioactive sources
2. Start the counter and the stopwatch
3. Stop the counter after 10 mins and record the number of counts
4. per min= number of 10 counts in 10 min/ 10 min

Question 12

What is Half-life?

Answer 12

The half-life of a radioactive nuclide is the time taken for half the nuclei of that nuclide in any sample to decay

Question 13

Medical uses related to damage of cells are:

Answer 13

1. gamma rays: they use the isotope, technetium-99 to detect tumors
2. Beta particles: It can destroy the thyroid cells including cancer cells
3. Gamma rays: From cobalt-60 use to destroy brain tumors

Question 14

Safety uses related to the damage of cells

Answer 14

1. gamma rays: Gamma rays can kill microbes so that food is safe to consume
2. Gamma rays: The microbes present on the medical equipment are killed

Question 15

Geology uses related to radioactive decay and half-life

Answer 15

Gamma rays: Isotope of uranium-238 has a long half-life is use to determine the age of rocks

Question 16

Safety uses related to the penetrating abilities and ionising effect

Answer 16

Alpha particles: Isotopes, americum-241 is used in smoke detectors

Question 17

Industrial uses related to Penetrating abilities and ionising effect

Answer 17

Beta particles and gamma rays: Use in manufactures where they need to ensure that the materials are of uniform thickness

Question 18

Hazards of Radioactive

Answer 18

1. Can kill cells and cause mutation and cancer
2. Affect the growth and reproduction of animals and plants