PHYSICS - Types of Radiation

Question 1

Look at pages 1-3

Answer 1

That makes so much sense now

Question 2

What is radioactivity?

Answer 2

Radiation emitted from the nucleus of certain atoms

Question 3

How can you tell if a nucleus is stable?

Answer 3

Depends if the number of protons and neutrons are balanced

Question 4

What are isotopes?

Answer 4

Atoms of the same element, same atomic number but different nucleon number

(Same number of protons, different number of neutrons)

Question 5

How does an unstable nucleus become stable?

Answer 5

Gives off radiation

Question 6

What are the 3 types of radiation?

Answer 6

Alpha radiation
Beta radiation
Gamma radiation

Question 7

What is alpha radiation?

Answer 7

Helium nuclei

• They got 2 protons & neutrons
• +2 charge
• Mass of 4
• Slow

Question 8

What is beta radiation?

Answer 8

Fast moving electron

• In nucleus, neutron changes into proton & electron, electron ejected from nucleus
• Relative negative charge of -1
• Mass of 1/2000
• 1.5x10^8 fast

Question 9

What is gamma radiation?

Answer 9

Electromagnetic wave

• 0 charge & mass
• Short wavelength & high frequency wave
• Very energetic wave due to frequency
• Travels at speed of light (3x10^8 n/s faster)
• Emits from nucleus due to too much energy

Question 10

What is ionisation?

Answer 10

• Ability to change a neutral atom –> positive ion
• Only by knocking an electron out of its shell
• Dangerous as it causes cancer (affects DNA too)

Question 11

What stops alpha?

Answer 11

Paper

Question 12

What stops beta?

Answer 12

mm’s of Aluminium

Question 13

What stops gamma?

Answer 13

cm’s of Lead

Question 14

Order the 3 radiations from most penetrating to least

Answer 14

• Gamma
• Beta
• Alpha

Question 15

Order the 3 radiations from most ionising to least

Answer 15

• Alpha
• Beta
• Gamma

Question 16

Whats a geiger muller counter/tube?

Answer 16

Device that produces click sounds when ionisation takes place

Question 17

3 ways of minimising dose from radioactive source

Answer 17

• Use tweezer
• Use perspex screen for shielding (only affective against beta)
• Minimise outside time of source

Question 18

Where should radioactive sources be kept when unused

Answer 18

Lead-lined box

Question 19

Explain how dose received depends on distance

Answer 19

Further away you go, smaller the dose

Question 20

Set up instructions on how to find out which source is which if their labels are removed ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Answer 20

1) Get geiger muller counter/tube & paper
2) Place sources at suitable place and counter to get original count
3) Place paper in between sources and counter
4) Record readings
5) I mean u meant to learn what stops the radiations so yeah…

Question 21

Name 8 sources of low-level background radiation

just list 3

Answer 21

• Cosmic rays (from space)
• Food and drink
• Medical?
• Air travels
• Ground and buildings
• Radon? (biggest contributor to bg radiation)
• Nuclear weapons testing
• Nuclear power

Question 22

Name 4 natural background radiation sources

Answer 22

• Cosmic rays
• Food and drink
• Radon gas
• Ground and buildings

Question 23

Name 2 man made background radiation sources

Answer 23

• Nuclear waste & Medical

Question 24

Why is it not possible to predict when an unstable nucleus decays?

Answer 24

Decay is random

Question 25

When calculating radiation emitted from a substance, what else do we have to be aware of?

Answer 25

Background radiation

Question 26

1) What does it mean if its “corrected for background radiation”?
2) Why is it done?
3) What is background radiation & name 1

Answer 26

1) They gain the radiation from substance and remove “background radiation” included.
2) To gain real amount of radiation from substance
3) Radiation from environment, [you should know this]

Question 27

Where is radon produced?

Why is it a health hazard?

Answer 27

• Inside volcanic rocks due to naturally occurring radioactive uranium disintegrating and forming radium
• Natural occurring radioactive uranium disintegrates
• Forms radium (radioactive)
• Also disintegrates forming radon
• It’s a gas emitting alpha particles

Question 28

Disadvantage of nuclear powerstations

Answer 28

Production of nuclear waste

Question 29

Name 5 methods of storing nuclear waste, advantages & disadvantages

s’pose u just list 2

Answer 29

1) Send into space
A: Long distance D: Expensive

2) Dump out to sea
A: Cheap D: Bioaccumulation

3) Leave it where it is
A: Free, easy D: Terrorist risk & health risks

4) Leave it on a remote island
A: Distance D: Bioaccumulation

5) Bury it underground
A: Cannot leave D: Geologic faults (may get in water)

Question 30

Why should radioactive waste be monitored?

Answer 30

Lasts for thousands of years, still emitting radiation

Question 31

How can you tell its an alpha decay?

Answer 31

Loss of 2 protons & neutrons (look at p. 28)

Question 32

How can you tell its a beta decay?

Answer 32

Loss of a fast-moving electron when a neutron changes into a proton (look at p.28)

basically add a -1 on atomic number ig

Question 33

How can you tell its a gamma decay?

Answer 33

You can’t idiot, doesn’t give off any particles

Question 34

I recommend you just look at pages 28 and above

Answer 34

You actually right what the hell