9.2 Background Radiation

Question 1

What is an ion ?

Answer 1

Atom that has gained or lost electrons making it electrically charged

Question 2

What is an isotope

Answer 2

Form of an element with the same atomic number but a different mass number

Question 3

What is the mass number?

Answer 3

The amount of nucleons

Question 4

What is the atomic number?

Answer 4

Number of protons and hence electrons

Question 5

What is background radiation?

Answer 5

Radiation that is constantly present in our environment

Question 6

What are the main natural sources of background radiation?

Answer 6

• radioactive gases emitted from the ground, mainly radon , often trapped in buildings and can reach high danger levels - can increase lung cancer chances
• radioactive elements in earth’s crust, give rise to gamma radiation
• cosmic background radiation, particles from space collide with particles in atmosphere producing nuclear radiation
• naturally occurring radioactive isotopes on our food and drink

Question 7

Example of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes in food and drink?

Answer 7

Carbon 14

Potassium 40

Question 8

What is radiation ?

Answer 8

Emission or transmission of energy in form of waves or particles

Question 9

What is the element that is a radioactive gas in our air ?

Answer 9

Radon

Question 10

What can high levels of radon cause ?

Answer 10

Lung cancer

Question 11

Another name for nuclear radiation ?

Answer 11

Ionizing radiation

Question 12

What is nuclear/ionizing radiation ?

Answer 12

Radiation carrying sufficient energy to ionize (detach electrons from elements) materials

Question 13

What percentage of radiation do natural sources make up?

Answer 13

85%

Question 14

What percentage do artificial sources make up of all radiation ?

Answer 14

15%

Question 15

Examples of artificial/man made radiation ?

Answer 15

Medical- x Rays

Industrial -nuclear power stations

Question 16

What is an radioactive isotope?

Answer 16

Element with excess nuclear energy, making it unstable. It will decay

Question 17

What is instability of nuclei caused by?

Answer 17

Too many neutrons
Too little neutrons
Too many nucleons (too much mass)
Too much energy in nucleus

Question 18

What happens to radioactive isotopes?

Answer 18

They decay to become more stable. This releases energy and/or particles.

Question 19

Radioactive decay is often what?

Answer 19

Random and cant be predicted

Question 20

What is radioactive decay.

Answer 20

The act of breaking down, releasing energy and/or particles in order to become stable