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Physics GCSE > P7-Radiation > Flashcards

P7-Radiation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is alpha radiation

A

Alpha radiation is where alpha particles are emmited from a nucleus

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2
Q

What is the structure of an alpha particle

A

Alpha particles have the same structure as a helium nucleus (2 protons,2 neutrons)

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3
Q

How penetrative are alpha particles

A

Alpha particles are not very penetrative and can travel through only a few mm of air before being stopped. They can also be absorbed by paper

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4
Q

How ionising are alpha particles

A

Alpha particles are the most ionising type of radiation , mostly because of their size, and can cause the most damage

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5
Q

What is beta radiation

A

Beta radiation is when beta particles are emmited from a nucleus

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6
Q

What are Beta Particles

A

Beta particles are very fast moving electrons. They have a charge of -1 and a very small mass

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7
Q

How ionising and penetrative are beta particles

A

Beta particles are moderatly ionising

Beta particles are moderatly penetrative as they can travel through metres of air but only mm of alumium

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8
Q

What do beta particles do when they collide with atoms

A

When beta particles collide with atoms they cause neutrons to become protons. This increases the number of protons in the atom but the overall mass number stays the same (as there are still the same amount of neutrons and protons combined). This also causes the positive charge of the nucleus to increase

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9
Q

What are gamma rays

A

Gamma rays are waves of electromagnetic radiation emmited from the nucleus

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10
Q

How penetrative are gamma rays

A

Gamma rays are very penetrative and can travel long distances through air without being stopped. They can be stopped by lead or concrete

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11
Q

How ionising are gamma rays

A

Gamma rays mainly pass through atoms rather than colliding with them so are less ionising than beta and alpha particles

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12
Q

What is the general formula for nuclear equations

A

The general formula for nuclear equations is

Atom before decay —> atom after decay + radiation emmited

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13
Q

What is the key rule for nuclear equations

A

The key rule for nuclear equations is that the atomic number before and after the decay must be the same (after =after+radiation emitted)

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14
Q

How does that atom after the decay change when an alpha particle is emmited

A
  • When an alpha particle is emmited from the nucleus the atom after the decay has 2 less neutrons and two less protons than before the decay
  • This means the mass number reduces by 4 and the atomic number by 2 from the atom before decay
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15
Q

How does the atom after decay change after a beta particle is emmited

A
  • When a beta particle is emmited one of the nuetrons from the atom before the decay turns into a proton for the atom after decay
  • This increases the atomic number of the atom after decay by 1 as there is one more proton but the mass number stays the same as there are still the same amount of total protons and nuetrons
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16
Q

How does the atom after decay change after a gamma ray is emmited from the nucleus

A
  • Gamma rays are used by the nucleus to get rid of excess energy from it
  • They have no affect on the atomic number or mass number
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17
Q

What is half life

A

Half life is the time it takes for the number of radioactive nuclei in an isotope to half

18
Q

What can half life be used to figure out

A

Half life can be used to figure out the rate at which a radioactive source decays -the activity

19
Q

What does a short half life mean

A

A short half life means that a sources activity falls very quickly and that the radioactive isotope is very unstavle and decays rapidly

20
Q

What does a long half life mean

A

A long half life means the activity falls more slowly as most of the nuclie dont decay for a long time . This can be dangerous over a long time period

21
Q

What are the risks of radiation

A
  • Radiation can enter living cells and ionise the atoms and molecules within them , leading to tissue damage
  • Lower doses can lead to mutated cells which can lead to their uncotrollable divide and growth ,forming tumours
  • Higher doses of radiation can lead to complete killing of cells , leading to radiation sinkness
22
Q

What are the uses of radiation

A
  • Since high doses of radiation can kill all cells radiation can be used to kill cancerous cells
  • gamma rays are carefully directed just at the right doses at cancerous cells , which kills them without killing too many normal cells
23
Q

How frequent is radioactive decay

A

Radioactive decay is random

24
Q

What else can radioactive isotopes be used for

A

Radioactive iosotopes can also be used for checking blocked kidneys.To do this a small amount of iodine 123 is injected into the patient and read from outside from a gieger counter. If the kidney is blocked it will stay emmiting radiation for a prolonged period of time and the count rate will stay high

25
Q

What is nuclear fission

A

Nuclear fission is the splitting of an unstable atomic nuclei it requires a lot of energy

26
Q

What does an atomic nucleus require to split

A

For a split to hapoen , a neutron needs to be absorbed into an atomic nucleus

27
Q

What does the atomic nuclie split into

A

The atomic nuclie splits into two smaller nuclie of roughly the sams size. They have energy in their kinetic energy stores

28
Q

What is also released when a nuclie splits

A

When a nuclie splits two or three neutrons are also released. If they are moving slow enough to be absorbed by another nucleus more fission occurs and a chain reaction is started

29
Q

What can the energy released during nuclear fission be used for

A
  • Lots of energy is released during nuclear fission as gamma rays
  • This energy and the energy in the kinetic energy stores of the products can be used to heat water to make steam to turn a generator to produce electricity
30
Q

Why do nuclear reactions have to be controlled

A

Nuclear reactions have to be controlled as if they are not too much energy will be released and an explosion will occur

31
Q

How are nuclear reactions controlled

A

Nuclear reactions are controlled using control rods that absorb surplus neutrons and stop great chain reactions happening. By stopping chain reactions they stop too much energy being released which can cause an explosion

32
Q

What happens during nuclear fusion

A

During nuclear fusion two lighter nuclie collide at high speeds to form one ,larger heavier nucleus.

The heavier nucleus doesnt have the same mass as the two lighter nuclei as some energy is also released

33
Q

What are the sources of background radiation

A

Background radition comes from many sources

  • It comes from naturally occuring unstable isotopes e.g rocks and food
  • It comes from space in the form of cosmic rays
  • It comes from human activity such as nuclear waste and nuclear explosions
34
Q

What is irradiation

A
  • Irradiation is when an object is exposed to a radioactive source (when an object is near a radioactive source)
  • It does not make the object itself radioactive
35
Q

What is contamination

A

Contamination is when an unwanted radioactive element gets into or onto an object

36
Q

Why can contamination be harmful to human health

A

Contamination can be harmful as the radioactive element could decay releasing radiation harmful to human health

-This radiation could ionise cells within the body which could lead to mutations

37
Q

Which types of radiation are the risks of irradiation highest with

A

The risks of irradiation are highest with beta and gamma particles as these two are the most penetrative so can penatrate through skin cells.

38
Q

What is the most harmful type of radiation with contamination

A

Alpha radiation is the most harmful type of radiation with contamination as it is the most ionising type of radiation and causes lots of localised damage

39
Q

Why is iodine used as a tracer in the body

A
  • Iodine has a half life of 8 days so it lasts long enough for the tests but decays almost completlety after
  • Iodine emmits gamma rays so can be detected outside the body
  • Iodine decays into a stable product
40
Q

What direction will an alpha particle deflect in an a electrical field

A

In an electrical field the alpha particle will deflect towards the negative side of the electric field due to the fact that the alpha particles have a positive charge

41
Q

What direction will a beta partivle deflect in an electric field

A

A beta particle will deflect towards the positive end of the electric field as the beta particle has a negative charge

42
Q

What is another definition for half life

A

The half life is the time it takesfor the count rate from a sample containing the isotope to fall to half its initial level

Physics GCSE (19 decks)

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