Atoms and nuclear radiation Flashcards
1
Q
What is radioactive decay?
A
A nucleus giving out radiation to become more stable
2
Q
What is activity
A
The rate at which a source of unstable nuclei decay
3
Q
What’s activity measured in?
A
Becquerel (bq)
4
Q
What is count rate?
A
The number of decays recorded each second by a Geiger muller tube
5
Q
What’s an alpha particle?
A
A particle made of 2 neutrons and 2 protons, it’s the same as a helium nucleus
6
Q
What’s a beta particle?
A
A high speed electron ejected from the nucleus as a neutron turns into a proton.
7
Q
What are gamma rays?
A
Electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus and is a neutron
8
Q
What are the properties of beta radiation?
A
They are moderately ionising and are absorbed by a sheet of aluminium that’s around 5mm thick
