P5.2.1 & 5.2.5 - Radioactivity Detection & Applications and Safety Precautions

Question 1

What is ionising nuclear radiation? [2]

Answer 1

radiation that can remove electrons out of atoms and turn them into ions

Question 2

What are examples of ionising nuclear radiation? [3]

Answer 2

• alpha radiation
• beta radiation
• gamma radiation

Question 3

What is background radiation? [2]

Answer 3

natural radiation constantly present in the environment

Question 4

What are sources that contribute to background radiation? [4]

Answer 4

• radon gas
• rocks and buildings
• food and drink
• cosmic rays

Question 5

How can ionising nuclear radiation be detected and measured? [1]

Answer 5

Geiger-Muller tube

Question 6

What is a Geiger-Muller tube? [1]

Answer 6

• detects and measures ionising nuclear radiation
• connected to a counter

Question 7

What does the counter do in a Geiger-Muller tube? [1]

Answer 7

• counter records the amount of radiation

Question 8

What is count rate measured in? [2]

Answer 8

counts/s or counts/min

Question 9

Where are applications of radioactivity used? [5]

Answer 9

• smoke alarms
• irradiating food to kill bacteria
• sterilisation of equipment using gamma rays
• using radiation to measure and control the thickness of materials because different radiation can pass through specific materials
• diagnosis and treatment of cancer using gamma rays

Question 10

What are the effects of ionising nuclear radiation on living things? [3]

Answer 10

• cell death
• mutations
• cancer

Question 11

How is cell death caused by ionising nuclear radiation? [3]

Answer 11

• it can break the DNA in cells
• it can make the cells stop working or die
• if too many cells die in an organ, that organ won’t work as it should

Question 12

How are mutations caused by ionising nuclear radiation? [3]

Answer 12

• can change the DNA in cells
• these mutations can be passed onto new cells without’ve being seen right away
• some mutations can make cells work wrong and cause problems

Question 13

How is cancer caused by ionising nuclear radiation? [2]

Answer 13

• mutations can make cells divide too much, causing cancer
• cancer cells grow quickly and form tumours that might spread

Question 14

What precautions are taken to move, use and store radioactive materials safely? [3]

Answer 14

• time
• distance
• shielding

Question 15

How is time a precaution? [1]

Answer 15

• limit the time of exposure to radioactive materials

Question 16

How is distance a precaution? [1]

Answer 16

• increase the distance between the radioactive source and people

Question 17

How is shielding a precaution? [1]

Answer 17

• using appropriate materials to block radiation