Isotopes and Nuclear Radiation

Question 1

What is a Isotope?

Answer 1

Different forms of the same element.
Same number of Protons but different number of neutrons

Question 2

What is the process Radioactive Decay?

Answer 2

unstable isotopes tend to decay into other elements and give out radiation as they try to become more stable.

Question 3

What is Alpha radiation?

Answer 3

when an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus

Question 4

What are the features of Alpha Particles?

Answer 4

dont penetrate very far in to materials and are stopped quickly
can only travel a few cm in air and are absorbed by a thin sheet of paper
Strongly ionizing

Question 5

What is a Beta -minus particle?

Answer 5

a simply fast moving electron released by the nucleus.
No mass and RAM of -1

Question 6

What is a Beta + particle?

Answer 6

Fast moving positron. Positron is the antiparticle of the electron:
same mass as electron
but positive charge

Question 7

How ionizing are beta particles?

Answer 7

moderately ionising

Question 8

What are gamma rays?

Answer 8

Waves of EM radiation released by the nucleus that carry away this energy.
Penetrate far into materials
This makes them weakly ionizing as they tend to pass through rather than collide