P6.1 Flashcards
What are the relative mass and charge of the different subatomic particles
Proton 1 +1
Neutron 1 0
Electron 0.0005 -1
What are isotopes
Isotopes are different number of neutrons but the same number of protons and electrons
How to calculate amount of neturons
Mass number - atomic number
Why do nuclei of atoms emit radiation
Because they are unstable and emit radiation. This radiation can be made up of particles and waves.
What is alpha radiation
It’s a particle, symbol a, it’s the nucleus of a helium atom, 4 2 He
What is beta radiation
It’s a particles, symbol B, a fast moving electron, 0 -1 e
What is gamma radiation
Electromagnetic wave, Y, a wave of the electromagnetic spectrum
What is neutron radiation
It’s a particle, N, a particle in the nucleus, 1 0 n
What is the bottom number and the top number
Is the charge and the top number the relative atomic mass
How does beta radiation occur
A nucleus doesn’t have electrons in it so it decays to form a proton and electron.
What is a geiger counter
A geiger counter is a device that clicks when radiation enters it. A click is a current produced when the radiation ionises the gas inside the tube.
What radiation has the lowest penetrative power
Alpha particles have the lowest penetrative power and can be stopped by a few sheets of paper.
What radiation has the medium penetrative power
Beta particles have the medium penetrative power and can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium.
What radiation has the highest penetrative power
Gamma particles have the highest penetrative power and can be stopped by a few cm of lead.
What is the order of the radiation in ionising power
Alpha, Beta, Gamma
What can radiation do
Radiation is ionising and can remove electrons from atoms forming positively charged ions.
Why are alpha particles the most ionising
Alpha particles are the most ionising as they transfer more energy to the material they are travelling through.
What is the general formula for alpha decay
DRAW IT
What do you have to make sure of in a nuclear equation
The charges and masses need to add up.
What is the formula for beta decay
DRAW IT
What is the formula for neutron emission
DRAW IT
When does material emit radiation (time wise)
it emits radiation randomly
What does a geiger counter measure
A geiger counter can measure the radiation (photons or particles) emitted per second. This is called activity, or count rate, of the sample, and is measured in (Bq).
What is one Bequerel
The count per second
