GCSE-RadioactiveDecay15 Flashcards
Alpha Decay Equation for Uranium-238
²³⁸U₉₂ → ²³⁴Th₉₀ + ⁴He₂
What happens to A in any Alpha Decay?
A decreases by 4
Alpha Particle Atomic Mass Number
4
Beta particle range in air
several metres.
Beta particle ionising power
moderate
Beta particles can be stopped by
5mm of Aluminium
The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time taken for its activity to …???
fall by half
Gamma ray charge
Zero
Beta Decay equation for carbon 14
¹⁴C₆ —> ¹⁴N₇ + ⁰e₋₁
Gamma Ray Ionising Power
Very weak
How A changes in Gamma Decay
no change
How A changes in beta decay
no change
A beta particle is a fast-moving …?
electron
Alpha Particles can be stopped by as little as a sheet of…?
paper
Alpha Particle Ionising Power
Very strong
Alpha Particle Charge
2
Gamma decay equation for Nickel-60
⁶⁰Ni₂₈*→⁶⁰Ni₂₈+γ
Beta Particle Charge
-1
Alpha particles have a range in air of a few …?
cm
An Alpha particle is a …?
Helium nucleus
The atomic mass number of a beta particle is …?
0
A Gamma ray is an …?
electromagnetic wave
The atomic mass number of a Gamma ray is …?
0
The range in air of Gamma radiation is …?
extremely large
Gamma radiation is greatly reduced by a thick block of …???
Lead or concrete
What happens to Z in any Alpha Decay?
Z decreases by 2
How Z changes in Beta decay
Z increases by 1
How Z changes in Gamma Decay
no change
After a time of n half-lives the activity of a radioactive source will equal the original value divided by …?
2ⁿ
A graph of Activity against time for a radioactive sample is an exponential …?
curve
measured activity - background activity = …??
corrected activity
