Nuclear Radiation Flashcards
Name the 3 types of nuclear radiation
Alpha, beta and gamma
What is an alpha particle
Alpha particles consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
It is positively charged
It has a slow moving electron
It is emitted when a larger unstable nuclei decays
They cause the greatest ionisation
What is a beta particle
Its negatively charged
Has a fast and high energy electron
Causes weak ionisation
What is a gamma particle
Has a neutral balance
Travels at the speed of light
Is emitted when a radioactive atom decays
Causes very weak ionisation
What are the units for absorbed dose
Grays- Gy
What are the units for equivalent dose
Sieverts- Sv
What is the unit for activity
Becquerel- Bq
What are the prefixes for micro
x 10 to the power of negative 6
What are the prefixes for milli
x 10 to the power of negative 3
What are the units for energy
Joules
What is the definition of half life
The time taken for the activity of a substance to halve
What is fission
The splitting of an atom
What is fussion
The joining of a nuclei
Energy is RELEASED when 2 nuclei combine to form a nucleus of a larger mass number
What is it meant by an activity of 1 bq
1 bq= 1 decay per second
What is meant by the term ionisation
Ionisation is the lose of gain of an electron to form ions
