Radiation Flashcards
1
Q
What is Alpha?
A
helium nucleus
2
Q
What is Gamma?
A
Electromagnetic wave
3
Q
What is Beta
A
fast moving electron
4
Q
Alpha symbol
A
α
5
Q
Beta symbol
A
β
6
Q
Gamma symbol
A
γ
7
Q
What is Ionising Radiation?
A
Atoms being hit by radiation energetic enough to cause them to become ions (due to electrons being knocked off)
8
Q
Alphas ionising power
A
strongly ionising (do to being larger, it is more likely to hit something)
9
Q
Beta ionising power
A
moderately ionising
10
Q
Gamma ionising power
A
weakly ionising (due to being faster, it is less likely to hit something)
11
Q
what can alpha be blocked by
A
paper
12
Q
what can beta be blocked by
A
aluminium
13
Q
what can gamma be blocked by
A
lead
14
Q
why are some atomic nuclei unstable
A
- there is an imbalance between protons and neutrons
- they contain too much energy
15
Q
why do unstable nuclei give out radiation
A
- they undergo decay to become more stable
- as they release radiation, their stability increases
