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Block Science > Fission And Fusion > Flashcards

Fission And Fusion Flashcards

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1
Q

What is gamma radiation

A

High energy electromagnetic waves (pure energy, no mass, no particle)

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2
Q

When does gamma radiation occur

A

When it is given off by the sun and by nuclear reactions

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3
Q

What is beta particle and what is it made of

A

A beta particle is high energy electron

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4
Q

When does a beta particle occur

A

It occurs when an atom undergoes beta decay

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5
Q

What happens to create a beta particle

A

Beta particles are created when a neutron converts itself into a proton by spitting out an electron

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6
Q

What is an alpha particle made of

A

Two protons and two neutrons l.

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7
Q

When does an alpha particle occur

A

It occurs in alpha decay when there are too many protons in a nucleus and the electromagnetic repulsion pushes some of them out of the nucleus

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8
Q

What type of radiation had the greatest penetrating ability

A

Gamma radiation

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9
Q

What type of radiation has the least penetrating ability

A

Alpha

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10
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses an alpha particle what will happen to the mass and what element will form

A

Mass stays the same 234 and it turns into thorium

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11
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses a beta particle what will happen to the mass and what will it turn into

A

The mass stays the same, 234 and turns into Neptunium

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12
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses an alpha particle what mass of radioactive particle forms

A

4

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13
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses an alpha particle what charge of the radioactive particle forms

A

Plus 2

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14
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses a beta particle what mass of radioactive particle forms

A

1/1800 amu

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15
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses a beta particle what charge off the radioactive particle is formed

A

Negative one

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16
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses gamma then what mass of the radioactive particle is formed

A

0

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17
Q

If an atom of uranium ( u-238) loses gamma then what charge of the radioactive particle is formed

A

0

18
Q

When inside your body what type of radioactive particle is the most dangerous and why

A

Alpha particles because they have a lot of mass and can hit your tissue ( in lungs and stomach) before they turn into helium

19
Q

What is a half life and what is its units

A

Half life is the amount of time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms to decay ( give off radiation) and then unit is seconds minutes days months years

20
Q

What is more radioactive a substance with a small half life or a big half life and why

A

Small half life because it gives off more radioactive particles per second. It shoots out radiation faster so it decays faster

21
Q

What is transmutation

A

When an atom is mutated into a different element by giving off alpha or beta radiation

22
Q

Explain the process of nuclear fission, and what is produced

A

Occurs when a large unstable atom is hit by a neutron that makes it split into two smaller atoms. The two smaller atoms are radioactive waste, gamma radiation and energy is produced

23
Q

What is chain reaction

A

When neutrons from fissioning of one atom cause other atoms to split, spreading and growing the reaction

24
Q

What must be present for chain reaction to occur

A

Chain reactions can happen if you hear a high concentration of fissionable uranium, much higher concentration than found in nature called enriched uranium

25
Q

What is fissionable uranium

A

U-235 to

26
Q

What is enriched uranium

A

Much higher concentrations of fissionable uranium than found in nature

27
Q

In a nuclear reactor what controls the reaction

A

Control rods, they absorb the neutrons given off by the fission and it stops and slows the reaction

28
Q

What are the pros of nuclear fission

A

No air pollution at all

29
Q

What are the cons of nuclear fission

A

Run out of uranium
Radioactive nuclear waste is made
Possible melt down spreading radioactive material into environment
Mining uranium releases radioactive dust into environment

30
Q

How is energy produced Ina fission reaction

A

When uranium atom splits a tiny bit of mass from each nucleon is converted into energy

31
Q

How is nuclear energy transformed into electrical energy into a nuclear reactor

A

Heat from the splitting of atoms is absorbed by water, turning into steam and then steam turns a turbine/ generator

32
Q

Explain the process of nuclear fusion

A

Two small atoms collide and fuse together into one large atom, needs very high temps and gives off lots of energy. No radioactive waste just helium

33
Q

What must be present in order for a fusion reaction to occur

A

Very high temps and small atoms like hydrogen

34
Q

What are the pros associated with fusion reactions

A

No pollution
Produces lots of energy
Lots of fuel available (H)

35
Q

What are the cons of fussion reactions

A

We cannot do it efficiently yet

It takes more energy to do fission than get out of it

36
Q

Where does fussion occur naturally

A

The sun

37
Q

What health problems can be caused by the radioactive wave leftover from fission

A

Cancer, birth defects, shortened life span

38
Q

What types of radiation cause these health problems

A

Alpha if it is inside your body because you swallowed radioactive atoms
Beta can harm your skin and surface tissues
Gamma can harm any part of your body because it penetrates all the way through

39
Q

What are the major sources of the radiation we encounter

A

Solar radiation from the sun, radiation from the center of the earth

40
Q

Alpha decay

A

A piece of nucleus breaks off

41
Q

Beta decay

A

An electron breaks free

Block Science (33 decks)

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