M1U3.2 Flashcards
The emission of particles & energy to become stable
Radioactivity
Other term for radioactive decay
radioactive disintegration
The process by which the nucleus spontaneously emits particles & energy an transforms itself into another atom to reach stability. It occurs when the nucleus contains too few or too many neutrons.
Radioactive Decay/ Radioactive Disintegration
Radioactive Decay/Radioactive Disintegration is the process by which the (1) spontaneously emits (2) & (3) and transforms itself into another atom to reach (4). It occurs when the (5) contains too few or too many neutrons.
- nucleus
- particles
- energy
- stabiliyy
- nucleus
Radioactive atoms that have the same number of protons
Radioisotopes
Two primary sources of naturally occurring radioisotopes
Uranium (U-92) & Carbon-14
TYPES OF IONIZING RADIATION
Particulate and Electromagnetic Radiation
Five Physical Characteristics of Ionizing Radiations
Mass
Energy
Velocity
Charge
Origin
It has finite range in matter
Particulate radiation
Examples of Particulate Radiation
Alpha & beta particles
Alpha Particle is equivalent to a —
helium nucleus
Light particles
Beta particle
Symbol of Alpha and Beta Particles
Alpha: α
Beta: β- or β+
Mass and Charge or Alpha and Beta Particles
Mass
α: 4amu
β: 0amu
Charge
α: +2
β: -1 or +1
Origin and Energy of Alpha and Beta Particles
Origin
α: nucleus of heavy radioactive nuclei
β: nucleus of radioactive nuclei
Energy
α: 4-7 MeV
β: 0-7 MeV
Range of alpha and beta particles
α: 1-10 cm (air); <0.1 mm (soft tissue)
β: 10-100 cm (air); 1-2 cm (soft tissue)
Ionization rate of alpha and beta particles
α: 40,000 atoms/cm
β: several hundred of atoms/cm
They are the same with electrons, they only differ in origin
Negative Beta Particles
Have the same mass with electrons
Positive Beta Particles
Other terms for Positive Beta Particles
Positrons
Antimatter
Examples of electromagnetic radiation
X-rays & gamma rays