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AQA GCSE Physics > 4. Atoms & Radioactivity > Flashcards

4. Atoms & Radioactivity Flashcards

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1
Q

Examples of nucleons?

A

Protons and neutrons

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2
Q

What is the majority of the mass of an atom?

A

The nucleus, as the mass of an electron is almost zero compared to the mass of protons and neutrons

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3
Q

What was Democritus’ theory about the atom?

A

400BC - all matter is made of small invisible units called atoms

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4
Q

What was Dalton’s theory about the atom?

A

1803 - agreed with Democritus and said atoms of the same element are identical and indestructible

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5
Q

What was Thomson’s theory about the atom?

A

1904 - Plum Pudding Model

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6
Q

What was Rutherford’s theory about the atom?

A

1911 - Nuclear Model; that most of the mass of the atom was concentrated in the nucleus which carries a positive charge

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7
Q

What was Bohr’s theory about the atom?

A

1913 - Bohr’s model, electrons orbit nucleus in certain energy levels

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8
Q

What was Chadwick’s theory about the atom?

A

1932 - discovered the neutron

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9
Q

Which scientists were involved with the history of the atom?

A
  • Democritus
  • Dalton
  • Thomson
  • Rutherford
  • Bohr
  • Chadwick
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10
Q

Which was the first sub-atomic particles to be discovered?

A

The electron, by Thomson

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11
Q

What was the Plum Pudding Model?

A

A sphere of positive charge (dough) with electrons dotted inside (plums)

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12
Q

What did the discovery of the electron show about atoms?

A

That atoms were not the smallest thing, as the electron was smaller than the atom

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13
Q

What did the Bohr model show?

A
  • That electrons can only orbit the nucleus in certain energy levels
  • Electromagnetic energy is emitted from the atom if an electron jumps from an excited energy level to one that’s closer to the nucleus
  • If an electron absorbs energy it can jump to a higher energy state from the nucleus
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14
Q

What did later experiments suggest about the atom?

A
  • the positive charge of any nucleus could be subdivided into a whole number of smaller individual sub-atomic particles called protons
  • 1934 - Chadwick used alpha scattering experiment to provide evidence for existence of the neutron
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15
Q

Who was the first to call the nucleus of a hydrogen atom a proton?

A

Rutherford

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16
Q

In the scattering experiment, how could have the alpha particles been supplied and been moving in the right direction?

A

From radioactive matter. Surrounded by lead shielding apart from a small opening facing the way they wanted the beam

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17
Q

Why was the chamber evacuated where the scattering experiment took place?

A

So the alpha particles didn’t change direction and so no other particles would affect the results

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18
Q

Why should alpha particles be repelled by positive atomic material?

A

They both have positive charges and like charges repel

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19
Q

What happens when isotopes have unstable nuclei?

A

They break down or disintegrate

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20
Q

What happens when isotopes break down or disintegrate?

A

They give out radiation said to be radioactive

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21
Q

What is the process when isotopes with unstable nuclei disintegrate?

A

Radioactive decay

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22
Q

What may nuclear radiation be?

A
  • an alpha particle
  • a beta particle
  • a gamma ray
  • a neutron
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23
Q

What does an alpha particle consist of?

A

2 neutrons and 2 protons - the same as a helium nucleus

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24
Q

What is a beta particle?

A

When a high speed electron is ejected from the nucleus as a neutron changes into a proton

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25
Q

What is a gamma ray?

A

High energy electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus

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26
Q

What are nuclear equations used to represent?

A

Radioactive decay

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27
Q

What happens to the mass and charge of the nucleus during alpha decay?

A

Both the mass and charge of the nucleus decease

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28
Q

What happens to the mass and charge of the nucleus during beta decay?

A

The mass of the nucleus doesn’t change however the charge of the nucleus increases

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29
Q

What happens to the mass and charge of the nucleus during gamma decay?

A

The emission of a gamma ray doesn’t cause the mass or charge of the nucleus to change

30
Q

What is an ion?

A

An atom which has lost or gained an electron

31
Q

What happens when radioactive radiation strikes atoms in a substance?

A

They can knock an electron from one atom to another

32
Q

Properties of alpha particles?

A
  • Relatively big, heavy and slow moving
  • Large relative charge (+2)
  • Strongly ionising - bash into lots of atoms and knock electrons off them
33
Q

Properties of beta particles?

A
  • Quite small and move quite fast

* Moderately ionising because they have a smaller relative charge (-1)

34
Q

What is the relative charge of an alpha particle?

A

+2

35
Q

What is the relative charge of a beta particle?

A

-1

36
Q

Properties of gamma radiation?

A

Weakly ionising as gamma is not charged

37
Q

What is the range of alpha in air?

A

A few cm

38
Q

What is the range of beta in air?

A

A few metres

39
Q

What is the range of gamma in air?

A

Infinite

40
Q

What can alpha radiation be stopped (absorbed) by?

A

Paper, card, skin

41
Q

What can beta radiation be stopped (absorbed) by?

A

Sheet of aluminium (5mm)

42
Q

What can gamma radiation be stopped (absorbed) by?

A

Thick sheet of lead or metres of concrete

43
Q

Which type of radiation is most ionising?

A

Alpha

44
Q

Which type of radiation is least ionising?

A

Gamma

45
Q

What is the safest type of radiation to have inside the body?

A

Gamma as it’s the least ionising and escapes easily

46
Q

What is the most dangerous type of radiation to have inside the body?

A

Alpha as it’s most ionising and cannot escape

47
Q

What is the safest type of radiation to have outside the body?

A

Alpha as it’s least penetrating

48
Q

What is the most dangerous type of radiation to have outside the body?

A

Gamma as it’s most penetrating

49
Q

What is alpha used in?

A

Smoke detectors

50
Q

How do smoke detectors work?

A

Alpha ionises air particles causing a current to flow. If there is smoke in the air, the smoke binds to the ions reducing the number available to carry a current. Current falls and alarm sounds

51
Q

Why is alpha used in smoke detectors?

A
  • Ionising
  • Charged
  • Cannot penetrate though a plastic shield
  • Can be absorbed by smoke
  • Shortest range
52
Q

Why aren’t beta or gamma used in smoke detectors?

A

They are less ionising and have a larger range

53
Q

Are smoke detectors safe given they contain alpha particles?

A

Yes as alpha has a short range and not penetrating, provided it is not pulled apart

54
Q

What is beta used in?

A

Beta emitters test the thickness of thin sheets of metal

55
Q

Why is beta used to test thickness of metal?

A

Particles are not immediately absorbed by the material like alpha, and do not penetrate as far as gamma

56
Q

What is gamma used for?

A
  • Tracers in medicine
  • Leak detection in pipes
  • Radiotherapy
  • Food irradiation
57
Q

What did Rutherford expect the alpha particles to do in the scattering experiment? Why?

A

He expected them to go through the thin sheet of atoms easily because they were moving at a very high speed

58
Q

What was the material of the sheet of atoms in the scattering experiment?

A

Gold

59
Q

What was Rutherford expecting to observe in the scattering experiment? Why?

A

For slight changes in the direction of the alpha particles due to them repelling from the thinly spread positive material of the atoms

60
Q

Why should alpha particles be repelled by positive atomic material?

A

They’re both positively charged

61
Q

Why did Rutherford not expect the electrons to have any noticeable effect on the movement of the alpha particles?

A

Alpha particles are much larger and have momentum and so need force for them to deflect their direction

62
Q

What was the set-up that allowed Geiger and Marsden to observe what happened to the alpha particles in the scattering experiment?

A

A fluorescent screen that when hit by alpha gives off spots of light - looked at using a microscope

63
Q

During the scattering experiment, which path of the alpha particles agreed with the plum pudding model?

A

The path which was slightly deflected

64
Q

During the scattering experiment, which path of the alpha particles disagrees most strongly with the prediction of the plum pudding model?

A

The path which was reflected over 90 degrees -because alpha have a positive charge and repelled the positive protons in the nucleus of the gold atoms. The nucleus was so dense that it caused the alpha particles to bounce back

65
Q

During the scattering experiment, only 1 in 10,000 alpha particles were deflected over 90 degrees. What does this suggest about the nucleus of an atom?

A

It is very small so have very few collisions with alpha particles

66
Q

What does ionising mean?

A

When atoms are turned into ions by losing or gaining electrons

67
Q

What is irradiation?

A

When the radiation stops as soon as the source of radiation has been removed

68
Q

Example of irradiation?

A

When a light is turned on the room is filled with electromagnetic radiation (visible light). When the light is turns off the electromagnetic radiation is gone

69
Q

What is contamination?

A

When the source of ionising radiation is transferred

70
Q

Example of contamination?

A

When radioactive isotopes in solids, liquids or gases are introduced into the environment

71
Q

Why is a patient more likely to get cancer through contamination than through irradiation?

A

In contamination the source of radiation is transferred and will stay in the body for longer. It is inside the body so is closer and therefore more intense.

AQA GCSE Physics (13 decks)

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