Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

IGCSE Physics > Nuclear Physics > Flashcards

Nuclear Physics Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Physics 101 flashcards AP® Physics flashcards
1
Q

What is the mass number?

A

Number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the atomic number?

A

Number of protons/electrons in an atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are isotopes?

A

Are atoms of the same element which have a different mass number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does 23Na stand for?

A

23 is the mass number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give an example of natural nuclear reaction

A

Nuclear decay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Define nuclear decay

A

It is the process where part of unstable nuclei disintegrated from it and it is emitted as radiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Give examples of artificial nuclear reactions

A

Fusion and fission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define nuclear fusion

A

It is the process where two atomic nuclei combine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Define fission

A

It is the process where atomic nucleus splits to other fragments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How is radioactivity measured?

A

In becquerels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

In alpha decay what happens to the atomic number and mass number?

A

Mass number decreases by four

Atomic number decreases by 2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is produced in alpha decay?

A

Helium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is radioactivity?

A

A random process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is background radiation?

A

The low intensity present in the Earth’s atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Give sources of background radiation

A 
Radiation from the earth's crust 
Radiation from outer space
Emission from nuclear experiments and power stations
Building materials
Radon gas
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How does radioactivity form ions?

A

When alpha, beta particles or gamma rays collide with a material they knock off an electron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is an ion?

A

Any atom that has lost or gained electrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are uses of ionising radiation?

A

A smoke detector

19
Q

What is the relative charge of alpha particles?

A

+2

20
Q

What is the speed of alpha?

A

0.1 speed of light

21
Q

What is the ionizing effect of alpha particles?

A

Highest ionisation due to frequent collision with gas molecules since they are massive

22
Q

What is the penetrating effect of alpha particles?

A

Stopped by a sheet of paper or skin

23
Q

What are beta particles?

A

High energy electrons emitted from the nucleus

24
Q

What is the relative charge of beta particles?

A

-1

25
Q

What is the ionising effect of beta particles?

A

Much less ionisation than alpha rays

26
Q

What is the penetrating effect of beta particles?

A

Stopped by a few mm of aluminium

27
Q

What is gamma rays?

A

High energy-frequency electromagnetic radiation

28
Q

What is the relative charge of gamma rays?

A

0

29
Q

What is the ionising effect of gamma rays?

A

least ionisation effect

30
Q

What is the speed of gamma rays?

A

Speed of light

31
Q

What is the penetrating effect of gamma rays?

A

Very high penetration effect can only be stopped by a thick sheet of lead

32
Q

When the current is going down( positive is up, negative is down) what happens when alpha particles are being shot through it?

A

They will be slightly deflected down

33
Q

When the current is going down( positive is up, negative is down) what happens when beta particles are being shot through it?

A

They are deflected more up

34
Q

When the current is going down( positive is up, negative is down) what happens when gamma rays are being shot through it?

A

Nothing happens

35
Q

When the current is going up( positive is down, negative is up) what happens when alpha particles are being shot through it?

A

They will slightly deflect up

36
Q

When the current is going up( positive is down, negative is up) what happens when beta particles are being shot through it?

A

They are deflected greatly down

37
Q

What happens in beta radiation?

A

A neutron in the parent nucleus changes to proton and electron

38
Q

What happens to the mass number and atomic number in beta decay?

A

The atomic number increases by one

39
Q

What is the half life?

A

Average time for half of the atoms in a given sample to be decayed or average count rate reduced to half of the original counts

40
Q

What happens in a graph showing count rate?

A

It decreases

41
Q

What is decay series?

A

It is one element turning into another which turns into another

42
Q

What are uses of radioactivity?

A
  1. Gamma rays are used to kill bacteria- sterilization
  2. Smoke detector
  3. Monitor thickness
  4. Carbon dating- find the age of living organisms
  5. Dating rocks
  6. Find leaks/blockages in pipes
  7. Tracers to investigate a patient’s body
  8. Treatment of cancer
43
Q

Which radiation is the most dangerous if the radioactive source is inside the body?

A

Alpha radiation because it is easily absorbed by cells

44
Q

Which radiation is the most dangerous if the radioactive source is outside the body?

A

Beta and gamma because they can penetrate through skin

IGCSE Physics (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions