P6.1 Radioactive Emissions

Question 1

Activity (physics)

Answer 1

Number of decays per second

Question 2

Alpha radiation (α)
Hint: helium

Answer 2

Particle emitted by unstable nucleus - helium nucleus - ⁴₂He
Very ionising
Least penetrating

Blocked by paper

Question 3

Becquerel (Bq)

Answer 3

Unit of activity of radioactive material
Equivalent to 1 decay per second

Question 4

Beta radiation (ß)

Answer 4

Particle emitted by an unstable nucleus - fast electron - ⁰-₁e
Not very ionising
Medium penetrating

Blocked by paper

Question 5

Geiger counter

Answer 5

Device for measuring activity of radioactive material

Question 6

half-life

Answer 6

Time for half unstable nuclei to decay,
or for activity to halve

Question 7

Ionising radiation

Answer 7

Particles / waves that can completely remove an electron from an atom

Question 8

Isotope

Answer 8

Atoms of the SAME ELEMENT with SAME number of protons and electrons,
but DIFFERENT numbers of neutrons

Question 9

Mass number

Answer 9

Number of protons and neutrons in nucleus of an atom

Question 10

Penetrating power

Answer 10

Ability of radiation to travel through a material (e.g. air, metal), which is linked to ionisation

Question 11

Radioactive

Answer 11

Material containing unstable nuclei that emit radiation

Question 12

RANDOM radioactive decay

Answer 12

Nature of radioactive decay as each nucleus has a fixed probability of decay

Question 13

Unstable nucleus

Answer 13

Nucleus that decays by emitting radiation or splitting (fission)

Question 14

Gamma radiation (y)
Hint: 0 0

Answer 14

Least ionising
Very penetrating
⁰₀y

Blocked by paper and lead