Physics - Radioactive key words Flashcards
Radioactivity
Emission of ionising radiation from an atom.
Radioactive Decay
The process in which an unstable atom releases ionising radiation to become more stable.
Ionising radiation
High energy radiation which can remove electrons from atoms.
Count rate
How much ionising radiation is detected per second.
Activity
The number of radioactive decays happening each second.
Becquerel
The unit of activity.
1 Bq = 1 decay per second.
Geiger-Muller tube
The device used to measure the amount of ionising radiation.
Background radiation
A small amount of ionising radiation around us all the time.
Radiation dose
How much ionising radiation we are exposed to.
Isotopes
Different forms of the same element. Isotopes have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.
Half-life
The time taken for the number of unstable atoms (or activity) to half.
Irradiation
You were exposed to ionising radiation
Contamination
You came into contact with the actual radioactive material.
