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A Level Physics > Nuclear Decay > Flashcards

Nuclear Decay Flashcards

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1
Q

Isotope

A

An element with the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons

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2
Q

Nuclear Decay

A

Spontaneous emission of energy of alpha, beta, gamma by an unstable nucleus to become more stable

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3
Q

Half life

A

The time taken for the number of radioactive nuclei to halve

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4
Q

Decay constant

A

The fraction of nuclei that will decay per second

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5
Q

Activity

A

The rate of decay of a sample of radioactive nuclei

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6
Q

What unit is used for Activity

A

Becquerel (Bq)

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7
Q

What is an Alpha radiation particle

A

A helium nucleus

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8
Q

What is a Beta radiation particle

A

A High speed electron

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9
Q

What is Gamma radiation

A

An Electromagnetic Wave

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10
Q

What is the charge of an Alpha particle

A

2+

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11
Q

What is the charge of a Beta Particle

A

1-

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12
Q

What is the charge of a gamma wave

A

0

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13
Q

What is the definition of half life

A

The time taken for half the number of radioactive nuclei present to decay

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14
Q

What is the penetration, like of an Alpha particle

A

low

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15
Q

What is the penetration, like of a Beta particle

A

medium

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16
Q

What is the penetration, like of a Gamma wave

A

High

17
Q

What is the change in nucleon and proton number when an Alpha particle is emitted

A

nucleon = -4
proton = -2

18
Q

What is the change in nucleon and proton number when a Beta particle is emitted

A

nucleon = 0
proton = +1

19
Q

Does Gamma radiation effect Nucleon and Proton Numbers, why?

A

No, since it does not have a charge

20
Q

What types of radiation are effected by electric/magnetic fields

A

Alpha and Beta

21
Q

Why do highly ionising particles have low penetration power

A

The particle interacts strongly with matter i passes through. So in each interaction some KE is absorbed by the matter. Which reduces its penetrating power.

22
Q

What is the first reason Alpha particles are highly ionising when compared to Beta particles, why

A

They have a higher charge than Beta
So they interact more strongly with other charged particles

23
Q

What is the second reason Alpha particles are highly ionising when compared to Beta particles, why

A

They have a larger mass
So they are more likely to collide with other particles

24
Q

What is the Third reason Alpha particles are highly ionising when compared to Beta particles, why

A

They move slower
So they increase the likelihood of interacting with other particles

25
Q

Why are gamma particles weakly ionising

A

They have no charge and no rest mass, High frequency so electrons cannot move fast enough to interact with them

26
Q

Describe the theory behind the first method to distinguishing between the radiations.

A

The three radiations have different penetrating powers, we use this to filter the radiations, with a counter detecting changes.

27
Q

Describe the theory behind the second method to distinguishing between the radiations

A

Since Alpha and Beta particles have opposite charges they move in different directions through electric/magnetic fields. A carefully placed Geiger counter can be used to detect the different radiations.

28
Q

What is the equation for the activity of a radioactive nuclei

A

A = -λN
N = Number of nuclei
λ = Decay constant

29
Q

What are the two similar equations that can be used to find the number of radioactive nuclei and activity

A

N = N_0e^(-λt)
A = A_0e^(-λt)

30
Q

What is the equation for Decay constant

A

λ = (ln(2))/(half life)

A Level Physics (16 decks)

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