Ionising radiation Flashcards
How does nuclear radiation cause ionisation?
It bashes into atoms and knocks electrons off them
What are atoms with no charge turned into during ionization?
Ions (with a charge)
Relationship between atom penetration and ionization
The further the radiation can penetrate before hitting an atom and getting stopped, the less damage it will do along the way (and so the less ionizing it is).
How can ionizing radiation be detected?
A Geiger-Muller detector or photographic film
What are the three types of ionizing radiation?
Alpha, beta, and gamma
What are alpha particles made of?
2 protons and 2 neutrons (they’re big, heavy, and slow-moving)
How far do alpha particles penetrate into materials?
Not far -they are stopped quickly
Why are alpha particles strongly ionizing?
They are large which means they bash into a lot of atoms and knock electrons off them before they slow down, which creates lots of ions.
Why are alpha particles deflected by electric and magnetic fields?
They are electrically charged (positively)
Impact of emitting an alpha particle
The atomic number of the nucleus decreases by 2 and the mass number by 4
What is a beta particle?
An electron which has been emitted from the nucleus of an atom when a neutron turns into a proton and an electron.
Impact of emitting a beta particle
The number of protons in the nucleus increases by 1 (so the atomic number increases) but the mass number stays the same.
Describe a beta particle
They are fast and move quickly. This means they penetrate moderately before colliding and so are moderately ionizing.
Why are beta particles deflected by electric and magnetic fields?
They are electrically charged (negatively)
What are gamma rays?
They have no mass, they’re just energy in the form of EM waves.
