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GCSE > P4 > Flashcards

P4 Flashcards

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1
Q

Radioactive Decay

A

Some atomic nuclei are unstable. The nucleus gives out radiation
as it changes to become more stable

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2
Q

What is the activity?

A

Activity is the rate at which a source of unstable nuclei decays

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3
Q

What is activity measured in?

A

Becquerel (Bq)

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4
Q

What is the Count - Rate?

A

The number of decays recorded each second by a
detector (eg Geiger-Muller tube)

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5
Q

How can nuclear radiation be emitted?

A
  • Alpha Particle
  • Beta Particle
  • Gamma Ray
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6
Q

What does an Alpha Particle consist of?

A

Consists of two neutrons and two protons, it is the same as a helium nucleus

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7
Q

What does a Beta Particle consist of?

A

Electron

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8
Q

What is a Gamma Ray?

A

Electromagnetic radiation

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9
Q

What is the air range of a Beta Particle?

A

1 metre

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10
Q

What is the air range of a Gamma Ray?

A

Hundreds of metres

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11
Q

What is the air range of an Alpha Particle?

A

8 centimetres

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12
Q

What is an Alpha particle stopped by?

A

Skin or Paper

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13
Q

What is a Gamma-ray stopped by?

A

Thick Lead

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14
Q

What is a Beta particle stopped by?

A

Thin Aluminium

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15
Q

How many atoms can 1 Alpha Particle Ionise?

A

10,000; it has a high charge, cant travel far

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16
Q

How many atoms can 1 Gamma Ray Ionise?

A

1; has no charge, can travel far

17
Q

How many atoms can 1 Beta Particle Ionise?

A

100; small charge, can travel little distance

18
Q

If there are too many neutrons, what radiation would we use?

A

Beta Particles; neutron splits into a proton and neutron, the electron is emitted (beta), which will carry a lot of energy

19
Q

Ionisation

A

Radiation removes electrons from atoms, turning them into ions

20
Q

What is the most dangerous Particle to ingest?

A

Alpha
- Ionising
- Can’t leave the body (least penetrating)

21
Q

What can radiation be used for?

A
  • Sterilising medical equipment (gamma)
  • Irradiation (gamma)
  • Medical Tracers (Beta/Gamma)
  • Smoke Detector (Alpha)
  • Measure paper Thickness (Beta)
22
Q

What is the most accurate way to measure the speed of Decay?

A

Half Life

23
Q

What is Half-Life?

A

The time it takes for the number of nuclei of the isotope in a sample to halve, or the time it takes for the count rate (or activity) from a sample containing the isotope to fall to half its initial level.

24
Q

What is Irradiation?

A

Irradiation is the process of exposing an object to nuclear radiation

25
Q

Radioactive Contamination?

A

Radioactive contamination is the unwanted presence of materials containing radioactive atoms in other materials

26
Q

Preventions of Contamination?

A
  • Tongs
  • Stored in Lead Lined Containers
  • Protective Clothing
  • Direct Sample Away
  • Limit Time of Use
27
Q

Factors affecting how dangerous a radioactive sample is?

A
  • Type of radiation
  • Its Half-Life
  • Length of Time exposed to it
28
Q

A sample of C-14 has a count rate of 80 and a Half-Life of 2 days. How long will it take before the count rate is 10?

A

6 Days

29
Q

What does absorbing electromagnetic radiation do?

A

Makes electrons move away from the nucleus to a higher energy level

30
Q

What does emitting electromagnetic radiation do?

A

Makes electrons move closer to the nucleus to a lower energy level

31
Q

What is an isotope?

A

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

32
Q

Why are some atomic nuclei unstable?

A

If there are too many or too few neutrons

33
Q

When does beta decay occur?

A

When there are too many neutrons

34
Q

When does Alpha decay occur?

A

When there are not enough neutrons

35
Q

When will Gamma radiation occur?

A

After Beta/Alpha radiation, the nucleus is full of energy making it very hot, it will loose energy by emitting a gamma ray

36
Q

What dictates how far it can travel through the air?

A

How ionising it is; if it’s highly ionising it will run out of energy quickly, else, if its poorly ionising they can travel farther before running out of energy

37
Q

How can radiation be damaging?

A

It can change the way that cells behave and also destroy/damage cells

38
Q

Pros and cons of radiation?

A
  • Can cause damage to living cells but only slightly
  • Can preserve foods

GCSE (4 decks)

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