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Physics > 7 Radioactivity and Particles > Flashcards

7 Radioactivity and Particles Flashcards

1
Q

Mass number

A

Number of protons + neutrons

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2
Q

Atomic Number

A

Number of protons

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3
Q

Proton Relative Charge

A

+1

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4
Q

Proton relative mass

A

1

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5
Q

Neutron relative charge

A

0

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6
Q

Neutron relative mass

A

1

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7
Q

Electron relative charge

A

-1

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8
Q

Electron relative mass

A

1/2000

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9
Q

Atom

A

Same number of protons and electrons

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10
Q

Ion

A

Different number of protons or electrons

Positive or negative

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11
Q

Isotopes of an element

A

Same number of protons
Different number of neutrons

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12
Q

Ionising Radiation

A

Produced when an unstable nucleus decays
It is a spontaneous and random process

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13
Q

Alpha Particle

A

2 protons, 2 neutons = helium nucleus

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14
Q

Alpha decay

A

2 protons + 2 neutrons (an alpha particle) are ejected from the parent nucleus.
Leaves behind a smaller daughter nucleus + energy

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15
Q

Beta Particle

A

Electron

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16
Q

Beta Decay

A

A neutron decays to a proton (remains in the nucleus) and an electron (which is ejected at high speed as a beta particle)

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17
Q

Gamma

A

Following alpha or beta decay, the daughter nucleus is left in an excited state. So it gets rid of this excess energy by emitting a gamma ray.

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18
Q

Alpha ionising power

A

High

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19
Q

Beta ionising power

A

Medium

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20
Q

Gamma ionising power

A

Low

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21
Q

Alpha penetrating power

22
Q

Beta penetrating power

23
Q

Gamma penetrating power

24
Q

Alpha range in air

25
Q

Beta range in air

A

500 - 1000cm

26
Q

Gamma range in air

27
Q

Barrier to stop alpha

28
Q

Barrier to stop beta

A

3mm aluminum

29
Q

Barrier to stop gamma

A

Thick sheet of lead

30
Q

What can be used to measure ionising radiation

A

Photographic Film
Geiger Muller Tube

31
Q

Measuring ionising radiation: Photographic film

A

Radiographers work in nuclear plants so they wear a holder containing photographic film (sensitive to ionising radiation)
Periodically is sent for developing ->the darker the film, the more radioactive exposure

32
Q

Measuring ionising radiation: Geiger Muller Tube

A

A gas is ionised by any incoming radiation, allowing a small current to flow.
The pulses of current are detected and converted to a count

33
Q

Uses of Radioactivity in industry + medicine

A

Thickness monitoring
Non destructive testing
Radioactive decay
Radiotherapy
Medical Tracers

34
Q

Uses of radioactivity: Radioactive decay

A

Small amounts of carbon-14 pass in and out of an organism when it dies
This carbon-14 becomes trapped and the radioactive activity decreases -> this activity can be measured to work out the age

35
Q

Uses of radioactivity: Radiotherapy

A

Ionising radiation can be targeted at unwanted cells e.g. cancerous cells to kill them

36
Q

Uses of radioactivity: Medical Tracers

A

Small amounts of radioactive substances (normally gamma emitters) can be ingested into the human body as tracers.
Gamma - emitters have short half lives.
The radioactivity is detected externally, and help diagnose health problems

37
Q

Contamination

A

If a gamma source is wiped on an object, some of the radioactive nuclei are transferred to the object -> the object becomes radioactive

38
Q

Irradiation

A

If an object is exposed to a gamma source, it kills bacteria -> the object does not become radioactive

39
Q

Dangers of ionising radiation

A

Can ionise atoms in living cells -> can cause mutations, which can cause death
Can damage cells + tissues

40
Q

Half - lives

A

The time taken for half the number of original nuclei to decay
The time taken for the activity to half

41
Q

What can be a source of energy?

A

Nucleur reactions

42
Q

Nucleur Fission

A
  1. A neutron is absorbed by a Uranium-235 nucleus
  2. The resulting nucleus Uranium - 236 is radioactive
  3. Uranium - 236 splits into 2 lighter nuclei (krypton and barium), 3 neutrons, and gamma radiation
  4. The 3 neutrons cause further fissions = chain reaction
43
Q

What is fusion the energy store in?

44
Q

Conditions for Nuclear Fusion

A

Only works at high temp. + pressures to cause 2 positive hydrogen isotopes to attract.

45
Q

Equation for Nuclear Fusion

A

2 hydrogen isotopes fuse to form a helium nucleus + neutron
The helium nucleus and neutron have a lower mass than reactants due to energy being released.

46
Q

Parts of Nuclear Fission Reactor

A
  • Control Rods
  • Moderator
  • Fuel Rods
  • Coolant
47
Q

Nuclear Fission Reactor: Control Rods

A

Boron
Absorbs neutrons and can be moved in and out of the core.

48
Q

Nuclear Fission Reactor: Pressure Vessel

A

Steel + concrete
Stops ionising radiation from escaping

49
Q

Nuclear Fission Reactor: Moderator

A

Graphite
Slows down fast moving neutrons so that they are more likely to be absorbed by Uranium - 235

50
Q

Nuclear Fission Reactor: Fuel Rods

A

Uranium - 235

Physics (8 decks)

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