Ionising Radiation And Risk

Question 1

What happens if a nucelus is unstable?

Answer 1

Transforms into more stable isotope by emitting radiation

Question 2

What can cause nulear instability? (4 answers)

Answer 2

• too many neutrons
• too few neutrons
• too much energy
• too massive

Question 3

What makes up Alpha radiation?

Answer 3

Helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons)

Question 4

What makes up Beta-minus radiation

Answer 4

Electron

Question 5

What makes up Beta-Plus radiation?

Answer 5

Positron

Question 6

What makes up Gamma radiation?

Answer 6

Short wavelength,high frequency Em wave

Question 7

Order the types of radiation in terms of ionising power

Answer 7

Alpha-Strong
Beta-Minus-Weak
Gamma-Very weak
Beta plus (annihilated by electron so no range)

Question 8

How does pentrating power change with increasing ionising power?

Answer 8

Pentrating power decreases because radiation loses energy as it ionises atoms. So the higher the ionising power the more energy lost so the shorter the range .

Question 9

What is the penetrating power of Alpha?

Answer 9

Absorbed by paper / few cm of air

Question 10

What is the penetrating power of Beta-Minus

Answer 10

Absorbed by 3mm of aluminium

Question 11

What is the penetrating power of Gamma

Answer 11

Absorbed by many cm of lead/ several m of concrete

Question 12

What is Alphas range in air

Answer 12

10cm

Question 13

What is Betas range in air

Answer 13

10-100cm

Question 14

What is gammas range in air

Answer 14

Calculate from I=Ioe^muxX