5. Nuclear Physics Flashcards
What are the characteristics of alpha particles?
- Positive charge
- The nucleus of a Helium atom (2 protons, 2 neutrons)
- Travels around 10% of the speed of light
- Can only move 5-10 cm in the air before ionising into helium gas
- Can’t go through paper
What is the formula for alpha decay?
(Insert image from book)
What are the characteristics of Beta Particles?
- Negative charge
- High speed electrons
- Occurs when a neutron spontaneously decays into a proton
- Travels at around 2.9x10^8 m/s
- Blocked by a thin layer of Aluminium
- Cannot travel through paper
What is the formula for beta decay?
(insert image from book)
What is the formula for gamma decay?
(insert image from book)
Radioactive atoms definition
Atoms that are radioactive have unstable nuclei that spontaneously break down
What are the reasons for Atoms to be unstable?
- Too many neutrons
- Too few neutrons
- Too much energy
What are the characteristics of gamma particles?
- Neutral Charge
- It is a high energy electromagnetic wave
- Small wave length
- No mass or charge
- Lowest ionising ability
- Highest penetrative ability
- Takes several centimeters of lead to block
What is background radiation?
The radiation that is constantly present in the environment
Sources of background radiation
- Food
- Rocks and building blocks
- Cosmic rays
What happens to radioactive atoms in an Electromagnetic field?
Radiation is deflected
Opposite charges attract: Beta particles move to the positive side. Alpha particles move to the negative side
Gamma particles are not affected
What happens to radioactive atoms in an Electromagnetic field?
Radiation is deflected
Opposite charges attract: Beta particles move to the positive side. Alpha particles move to the negative side
Gamma particles are not affected
