Nuclear radiation

Question 1

Alpha

Answer 1

Also known as the nucleus of a helium atom. Positively charged, has a mass of 4 amu, has a slow relative speed and has a high ionising effect.

Question 2

Beta

Answer 2

Also known as a high energy electron, negatively charged, fast moving, negligible mass, medium relative speed and medium ionising effect.

Question 3

Gamma

Answer 3

Also known as a high energy/frequency wave, no charge, no mass, fast relative speed (speed of light) and low ionising effect.

Question 4

What does the term ionisation mean?

Answer 4

Ionisation is the addition or removal of an electron from an atom to create an ion.

Question 5

What is the ionising effect of Alpha radiation?

Answer 5

Alpha radiation is highly ionising.

Question 6

What is the ionising effect of Beta radiation?

Answer 6

Beta radiation is moderately ionising.

Question 7

What is the ionising effect of gamma radiation?

Answer 7

Gamma radiation is very weakly ionising.

Question 8

What is the penetrating ability of Alpha radiation?

Answer 8

Alpha radiation is the least penetrating because they are the most ionising. Alpha particles are absorbed by 10cm of air 0.01mm of lead or a sheet of paper.

Question 9

What is the penetrating ability of Beta radiation?

Answer 9

Beta particles are moderately penetrating. Their energy can be absorbed by 1m of air, 0.1mm of lead or 3mm of aluminium.

Question 10

What is the penetrating ability of Gamma radiation?

Answer 10

Gamma rays have a very high penetrating ability because their ionising ability is so low. Their energy can ve absorbed by 1km of air or 10cm of lead.

Question 11

What are some detectors of ionising radiation?

Answer 11

The Geiger-Muller Tube, photographic film and Scintillation Counter

Question 12

What are the sources of background radiation?

Answer 12

Cosmic rays, radon gas, radioactive rocks, soil and plants, nuclear power stations and nuclear medicine.

Question 13

What are some safety measures you can take when dealing with radiation?

Answer 13

Use safety glasses, keep it contained in a special shielded box after use, wash hands thoroughly and use plastic gloves.

Question 14

What does the term activity mean?

Answer 14

The rate at which a radioactive source decays. It is measured in Becquerel (Bq).

Question 15

What does the term half-life mean?

Answer 15

The half life of a radioactive source is the time for the activity to fall to half its original value.

Question 16

What does the term absorbed dose mean?

Answer 16

The absorbed dose is the energy absorbed per unit mass of the absorbing material.

Question 17

What does the equivalent dose mean?

Answer 17

The equivalent dose combines the absorbed dose with the radiation weighing factor to give a more accurate “picture” of the potential harm that could be done by radiation.

Question 18

What is the radiation weighing factor?

Answer 18

The radiation weighing factor is a scale factor, which indicates the ability of a particular type of radiation to cause damage to living tissue.

Question 19

What is the equivalent dose rate?

Answer 19

The equivalent dose rate is the amount of time exposed to the radiation, taking into account the amount of energy the radiation has and the type of radiation.

Question 20

What are some applications of nuclear radiation in industry and medicine?

Answer 20

To help diagnose diseases or damage in the body with X-rays, external radiotherapy, internal radiotherapy, measuring the thickness of materials, radiography, tracers, sterilisation, dating and smoke detectors.