Alpha, Beta, Gamma Flashcards
1
Q
What is ionising radiation?
A
radiation which has enough energy to create an ion from (ionise) an atom
2
Q
Is ionising radiation dangerous?
A
No it is mostly harmless
3
Q
What is ionising radiation used for?
A
It is used by Geiger - Muller tubes to detect decay
4
Q
What happens when a nucleus emits an alpha particle?
A
it loses two protons and two neutrons
5
Q
What happens when a nucleus emits a beta particle?
A
a neutron breaks up into a proton and a beta particle
the atomic number increases by 1 but mass number stays the same
lose a neutron gain a proton
6
Q
How can you be safe around a radioactive source?
A
- increase distance from source
2. decrease handling time
