Nuclear Flashcards
Disposing Nuclear waste (6 marker)
- Source of waste
- How it is treated
- Problems with dealing with waste
Most dangerous radioactive waste is the fission fragments from fission of Uranium-235 or used fuel rods.
Waste put into cooling ponds near the reactor for several years as it is very hot + to absorb radiation. Plutonium + Uranium is separated to be recycled.
Waste is solidified and placed in concrete cylinders + stored deep underground in geologically stable areas.
Role of moderator
Neutron collides elastically, bouncing off with less kinetic energy
Role of control rod
Absorb neutrons
Fission process
Neutron absorbed by Uranium nucleus
Causing the nucleus to split into 2 daughter nuclei
Releasing several fast-moving neutrons
Why is gold foil used for alpha particle scattering?
Can be rolled out into a very thin sheet without cracking
How many particles bounced back after being fired at thin gold foil?
1 in every 10,000
Why is a vacuum used in alpha particle scattering?
Alpha particles can be stopped by air
Nuclear model of the atom
All of atom’s positive charge must be concentrated in a tiny core (nucleus)
Electrons surround the nucleus, but far from it.
Ionisation definition
Process of an atom/molecule acquiring a negative or positive charge by gaining/losing electrons, forming ions
Ion definition
An atom/molecule with a net charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons
Irradiation definition
The process by which an object is exposed to radiation
Contamination definition
When you get a radioactive substance on or inside your body, thus irradiating you
Sources of background radiation
Cosmic rays
Rocks and soil
Nuclear fallout
