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A-Level Physics EDEXCEL Year 2 > 9.4 Ionising Radiation > Flashcards

9.4 Ionising Radiation Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 types of ionsing radiation ?

A

Alpha
Beta plus
Beta minus
Gamma

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2
Q

Another name for ionizing radiation ?

A

Nuclear radiation

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3
Q

How can we detect alpha radiation ?

A

Using a spark counter or an ionization chamber

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4
Q

What is alpha radiation absorbed by ?

A
  • few cm of air

- paper

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5
Q

Can alpha particles be deflected by a magnetic field?

A

Yes , due to being charged

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6
Q

Can alpha particles be accelerated by electric fields?

A

Yes due to being charged

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7
Q

What is the relative charge of an alpha particle?

A

+2

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8
Q

What is the nature of an alpha particle?

A

Helium nucleus

  • 2 protons and 2 neutrons
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9
Q

What is the mass of an alpha particle?

A

4u

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10
Q

What is u ?

A

Atomic mass unit

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11
Q

Why does alpha have a strong ionsing ability ?

A

Due to strong mass and charge they can pull electrons off atoms hence easily absorbed as passes through matter so they also dont travel far

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12
Q

What is alpha particles speed compared to beta and gamma?

A

Lower speed than both beta and gamma

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13
Q

What can we detect beta radiation with?

A

Geiger Muller Tube connected to scaler or rate meter

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14
Q

Why cant a geiger muller tube detect alpha radiation?

A

Alpha cannot penetrate through the thin mica windows

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15
Q

What is the nature of a b minus radiation ?

A

Electron like

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16
Q

What can b minus particles travel through

A
  • 50 cm of air

- 3mm of aluminium

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17
Q

Can a b minutes radiation/particles be deflected using a magnetic field?

A

Yes

18
Q

Beta minus and electric field

A

The particle will be affected

19
Q

What is the charge of a b minus particle

A

-1

20
Q

What is the mass of a b minus particle

A

Negligible

21
Q

Why does b minus radiation cause less ionization than alpha ?

A

Less charge and mass

22
Q

Why is b minus particle more penetrative compared to alpha

A

Lower ionization and greater speed so can penetrate more until all energy is used up

23
Q

What is the b minus speed compared to alpha and gamma

A

Faster than alpha but slower than gamma

24
Q

How can we show that a magnetic field affects a b minus radiation?

A

Have a magnetic field perpendicular to direction of travel of beta radiation towards a GM tube.
The count should be lower with magnetic field than without

25
Q

What is gamma radiation ?

A

High frequency em radiation

26
Q

What is em radiation?

A

Photons

27
Q

What is a photon

A

Bundle of em energy

28
Q

How ionising is gamma radiation ?

A

Weakly ionizing as a photon has to directly collide with a particle for ionization to occur

29
Q

What is gamma radiation absorbed by?

A
  • many cm of lead

- several m of concrete

30
Q

How far can gamma travel?

A

Greater distances compared to alpha and beta. Due to low ionization it takes a long time for all energy to be transferred.

31
Q

Is gamma radiation affected by fields (magnetic and electric)

A

No

32
Q

What is the charge of gamma radiation ?

A

None

33
Q

What is the speed of gamma radiation

A

Speed of light

34
Q

What is the mass of gamma radiation?

A

None

35
Q

Why do beta minus particles deflect more than alpha?

A

Have lower charge but also much lower mass making then easier to deflect

36
Q

What is the nature of a B plus particle?

A

Positron

37
Q

What is the charge of a b plus partickle

A

+1

38
Q

What is the mass of b+ ?

A

Negligible

39
Q

What is the range of a b + particle /radiation

A

Gets instantly annihilated by electrons so zero range

40
Q

Where does ionising radiation come from ?

A

Unstable nuclei of radioactive elements

A-Level Physics EDEXCEL Year 2 (90 decks)

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