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Physics Paper 1 > P7 Radioactivity > Flashcards

P7 Radioactivity Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the three types of radiation?

A
  • Alpha
  • Beta
  • Gamma
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2
Q

What is an isotope?

A

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons

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3
Q

What is the relative mass of an alpha particle?

A

4

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4
Q

What is the relative charge of an alpha particle?

A

+2

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5
Q

What is an alpha particle made up of?

A

Two protons and two neutrons, it is identical to a helium nucleus

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6
Q

How does the nucleus of an atom change when an alpha particle is emitted?

A
  • Its atomic number goes down by 2, and its mass number goes down by 4
  • The mass and the charge of the nucleus are both reduced
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7
Q

What is a beta particle?

A

An electron created and emitted by a nucleus that has too many neutrons compared with its protons

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8
Q

What is the relative mass of a beta particle?

A

Effectively zero

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9
Q

What is the relative charge of a beta particle?

A

-1

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10
Q

How does the nucleus of an atom change when a beta particle is emitted?

A
  • A neutron in the nucleus changes into a proton
  • The atomic number of the nucleus goes up by 1, and its mass number is unchanged
  • The charge of the nucleus is increased, the mass of the nucleus is unchanged
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11
Q

What is activity?

A

The rate at which a source of unstable nuclei decays

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12
Q

What is activity measured in?

A

Becquerel (Bq)

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13
Q

What is count-rate?

A

The number of decays recorded each second by a detector

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14
Q

What is a gamma ray?

A

Electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus

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15
Q

What is the charge of a gamma ray?

A

Uncharged

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16
Q

What is the mass of a gamma ray?

A

No mass

17
Q

How does the nucleus of an atom change when a gamma ray is emitted?

A
  • No change in the number of protons or neutrons in a nucleus
  • So the mass and the charge of the nucleus are both unchanged
18
Q

What causes neutron emission of a substance?

A
  • Neutrons are emitted by some radioactive substances as a result of alpha particles colliding with unstable nuclei in the substance
  • Such a collision causes the unstable nuclei to become even more unstable and emit a neutron
19
Q

Which is the most penetrating type of radiation?

A

Gamma

20
Q

Which is the least penetrating type of radiation?

A

Alpha

21
Q

What stops alpha radiation?

A

Paper

22
Q

What stops beta radiation?

A

Aluminium

23
Q

What stops gamma radiation?

A

Lead

Physics Paper 1 (11 decks)

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