P4 - Radioactivity

Question 0

What does an alpha particle contain?

Answer 0

2 neutrons + 2 protons

Question 1

What safety procedures must be followed with working with something radioactive?

Answer 1

Don't handle directly
Never point a source 
Store in lead lined containers
Wear protection suits 
Wear a radiation badge

Question 2

What electric charge does an alpha particle have?

Answer 2

+2

Question 3

What is the relative atomic mass of an alpha particle?

Answer 3

4

Question 4

Where is alpha radiation the most dangerous and why?

Answer 4

It is most dangerous inside the body because it cannot escape out of the skin

Question 5

What happens to an alpha particle in a magnetic field?

Answer 5

It is weakly affected

Question 6

What is a beta particle?

Answer 6

A high energy electron

Question 7

What is the electric charge of a beta particle?

Answer 7

-1

Question 8

What is the relative mass of a beta particle?

Answer 8

1/1860th (very small)

Question 9

What is the effect of a magnetic field on a beta particle?

Answer 9

It is strongly affected

Question 10

What is gamma?

Answer 10

High energy electromagnetic radiation

Question 11

What charge does a gamma ray have?

Answer 11

No charge

Question 12

Where is gamma the most dangerous?

Answer 12

Outside the body

Question 13

What stops alpha?

Answer 13

Skin or paper

Question 14

What stops beta?

Answer 14

Thin aluminium

Question 15

What stops gamma?

Answer 15

Thick lead REDUCES gamma

Question 16

How can you dispose of nuclear waste?

Answer 16

Store in strong security in the station
Dump it far out into sea
Store in deep non-permeable rock

Question 17

What is another name for the alpha particle?

Answer 17

Helium nuclei

Question 18

Describe alpha decay?

Answer 18

2 neutrons and 2 protons are emitted from the nucleus

Question 19

Describe the effects of alpha decay

Answer 19

Mass number decreases by 4, atomic number decreases by 2

Question 20

Describe beta radiation

Answer 20

A neutron in the nucleus decays into a proton and a high energy electron is emitted

Question 21

What is the effect of beta decay

Answer 21

Mass stays the same, atomic number increased by one

Question 22

Describe gamma decay

Answer 22

Nucleus changes shape into a more stable one. Gamma radiation is emitted

Question 23

What is the effect of gamma decay?

Answer 23

It all stays the same

Question 24

What are the two definitions of half life?

Answer 24

The time it takes for count rate to decrease by 50%

Time taken for number of radioactive nuclei in a sample to decrease by 50%

Question 25

How to do you work out a half life?

Answer 25

Map out each half and put the numbers with it e.g
12—->24—->36—->48
1/2—>1/4—>1/8—>1/16