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Physics > P6 - Radioactive Materials > Flashcards

P6 - Radioactive Materials Flashcards

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1
Q

Atom

A

The smallest part of the element it makes up

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2
Q

What was the 1909 Rutherford-Geiger-Marsden Alpha Scattering Experiment? (2)

A

An experiment to prove the structure of an atom, during which alpha particles were fired at gold foil

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3
Q

What were the three observations recorder during the 1909 Rutherford-Geiger-Marsden Alpha Scattering Experiment?

A
  • Most alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil undeviated
  • A few particles were deflected through small angles
  • Even fewer bounced straight back from the foil
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4
Q

What were the three conclusions of the 1909 Rutherford-Geiger-Marsden Alpha Scattering Experiment?

A
  • The atom is mostly empty space since most particles went straight through
  • The mass and charge of an atom is concentrated in a small area in he centre of the atom (nucleus)
  • The nucleus was positive because the positive alpha particles were repelled
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5
Q

Isotopes

A

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons

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6
Q

Name the three isotopes of Hydrogen:

A 
Hydrogen = 1 neutron
Deuterium = 2 neutron
Tritium = 3 neutron
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7
Q

What does ionising radiation do to atoms?

A

It knocks electrons off and turns atoms into positive ions

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8
Q

Background radiation

A

Low level ionising radiation that is all around us

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9
Q

What are the 6 main sources of background radiation?

A
  • Gamma rays from the ground and buildings
  • Medical Sources
  • Radon gas from the ground
  • Nuclear power/ weapons testing
  • Food and Drink
  • Cosmic rays
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10
Q

The amount of radiation emitted by a radioactive source depends on…

A

The amount of radioactive material present

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11
Q

What are the three types of ionising radiation?

A

Alpha, Beta and Gamma

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12
Q

What are the properties of alpha radiation? (4) (structure, charge, ionisation, penetration)

A
  • Two protons, two neutrons like a helium nucleus
  • 2+ charge
  • Highly ionising
  • Low penetration
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13
Q

What are the properties of beta radiation? (4) (structure, charge, ionisation, penetration)

A
  • Fast moving election
  • 1- Charge
  • Medium ionising power
  • Medium Penetration
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14
Q

What are the properties of gamma radiation? (3) (structure, ionisation, penetration)

A
  • High frequency electromagnetic wave
  • Low ionising power
  • High penetration
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15
Q

What materials can be used to absorb each type of ionising radiation? (3)

A

Alpha particles - Paper
Beta particles - Thin sheet of aluminium
Gamma rays - Thick block of lead/ concrete

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16
Q

How does high intensity radiation affect living cells? (2)

A

It can kill living cells and cause tissue damage leading to radiation sickness or cause cells to become sterile

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17
Q

How does low intensity radiation affect living cells?

A

It can affect the genetic makeup of a cells, causing mutations that could lead to cancer

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18
Q

Which type of radiation is dangerous inside the body and why?

A

Alpha radiation is the most dangerous because it is easily absorbed by cells

19
Q

Which type of radiation is dangerous outside the body and why?

A

Beta and Gamma radiation because they can penetrate the body

20
Q

What is the unit of Radiation absorbed?

A

A sievert (Sv)

21
Q

What 4 elements are the most highly susceptible to ionising radiation in the body?

A

Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Carbon

22
Q

Radioactive decay

A

When the radioactivity of of a material decreases over time as the amount of radioactive nuclei decreases

23
Q

What happens in an atom during beta emission?

A

A neutron becomes a proton

24
Q

What does emitting a gamma ray do to an atom?

A

Release energy only

25
Q

Half life

A

The time it takes for half of the nuclei in a radioactive element to decay

26
Q

What are the four main uses of ionising radiation?

A

Treating cancer, Sterilising medical instruments, Sterilising food, Detecting tumours

27
Q

What are radioactive tracers and what type of radiation is used by them and why?

A

Devices used to detect brain and other tumours; these use beta or gamma radiation so that the skin and tissues can be penetrated

28
Q

Irradiation

A

Exposure to radiation

28
Q

Contamination

A

When a radioactive material is mixed up with a person or surface

29
Q

What is a film badge used for?

A

To measure the level of exposure to radiation someone or something has had

30
Q

Nuclear fission

A

When two heavy nuclei are split into two smaller nuclei and energy is released

31
Q

Nuclear fusion

A

When two nuclei fuse to form a larger nucleus and energy is released

32
Q

What two radioactive elements are used to start off nuclear fission reactions?

A

Uranium and Plutonium

33
Q

Chain reaction

A

When the nuclei released from a starting nuclear fission go on to initiate more and more increasing nuclear fissions

34
Q

What are the three categories of Radioactive waste and give an example of each? (6)

A
  • Low level Waste: contaminated paper/ clothes
  • Intermediate level Waste: Chemical sludges, reactor parts
  • High level Waste: Spent fuel rods
35
Q

How is low level radioactive waste disposed of? (3)

A

Burnt, sealed in containers and buried in landfill

36
Q

How is intermediate level radioactive waste disposed of? (2)

A

Shielded, longer half lives are buried deep underground

37
Q

How is high level radioactive waste disposed of? (3)

A

Mixed with molten glass, contained in steel drums and stored carefully

38
Q

Coolant (in terms of nuclear power)

A

A gas/liquid circulated around a nuclear reactor to absorb heat energy and transfer it to a steam generator

39
Q

What are nuclear power control rods usually made of?

A

Boron

40
Q

What do control rods do in nuclear power and how are they used?

A

They absorb excess neutrons and are raised or lowered into the reactor to control the fission

41
Q

Why is nuclear fusion power better than fission power? (3)

A
  • It releases a lot more energy per kg
  • It doesn’t release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
  • The reactants (isotopes of hydrogen) are readily available and only needed in small amounts
42
Q

What is the problem with nuclear fusion?

A

More energy is consumed producing its ideal conditions than it releases

Physics (6 decks)

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