Radiation Flashcards
What do you use when detecting radiation
Absorber
GM tube- Geiger- Muller tube
Counter - counts how many particles get through
Define isotope
An atom of an element which has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons
Define radioactive isotope
An isotope that gives out radiation
Define mass number
The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Define atomic number
The number of protons in an atom of an element is called its atomic
number.
Define ion
An Ion is an atom which has become charged because it has either lost or gained electrons
What does it mean when a radioactive substance has decayed
When a radioactive substance gives out radiation, it has decayed
Complete the equation
230A90 —> 226R88 + ____
230A90 —> 226R88 + 4α2
Complete the equation
27T14 —> 4α2 + ___W___
27T14 —> 4α2 + 23W1
Complete the equation
35S17 —> 0β-1 + ___R____
35S17 —> 0β-1 + 35R18
Complete the equation
12E45 —> ____ + 12E46
12E45 —> 0β-1 + 12E46
Complete the equation
57Y28 —> γ + ___Y_____
57Y28 —> γ + 57Y28
No change energy is being emitted
State the different ways an alpha particle may be represented in a nuclear equation
4α2
4He2
State the different ways an beta particle may be represented in a nuclear equation
0β-1
0e-1
State the different ways an gamma ray may be represented in a nuclear equation
γ
What does beta decay do
beta decay does not cause the mass of the nucleus to change
but does cause the charge of the nucleus to increase
in beta decay, the atomic number increases by 1 but the mass number does not change
What does alpha decay cause
alpha decay causes both the mass and charge of the nucleus to
decrease.
During alpha decay, the atomic number decreases by 2
During alpha decay, the mass number decreases by 4
What does the emission of gamma ray cause
The emission of a gamma ray does not cause the mass or the
charge of the nucleus to change.
In gamma decay, both the atomic number and the mass number are not changed at all
A smoke detector contains a source of alpha radiation in a plastic case.
A source of beta radiation in a smoke detector would be more hazardous than a
source of alpha radiation.
beta radiation is more
penetrating (than alpha
radiation)
so beta radiation could irradiate
people passing near the smoke
detector
Internal contamination of the human body means radioactive material is inside the
human body.
Explain how the risk from internal contamination is different to the risk from external
irradiation by a source of alpha radiation.
alpha radiation has a low
penetrating ability
(so externally) alpha radiation is
stopped by skin (so is low risk)
internally, alpha radiation is absorbed by living tissue / organs
(as) alpha radiation is highly ionising
(internal) contamination will cause greater (risk of) harm to cells
greater chance of developing cancer/ mutations
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2022/june/AQA-8464P1H-QP-JUN22.PDF
question 6.3
(some) radiation is stopped by paper
so the source emits alpha
radiation
and (some)
radiation passes
through paper but is stopped by aluminium
so the source emits beta
radiation (but does not emit gamma)
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2021/november/AQA-84631H-QP-NOV21.PDF
6.5 question
one alpha decay would
decrease proton number by 2
two beta decays would increase
proton number by 2
so the proton (atomic) number of
the final nucleus is the same as
the proton (atomic number) of
the original nucleus
230Th90 —> 226Ra88 + Radiation
Name what type of radiation was emited by thorium-230
Explain the reason for your answer
The mass number has decreased by 4
Atomic number has decreased by 2
These numbers constitute an alpha particle
Beta decay soes not cause the mass number of an atom to change
Explain why not.
When Beta decay occurs, a neutron turns into a proton and an electron
Therefore the mass number will stay the same
(mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons of a given atom.
meaning the mass number will not change as 1 neutron is lost and 1 proton is gained)
It is impossible for the alpha decay of bismuth-212 to produce the same element as the beta decay of bismuth-212
For beta decay the atomic number increases by 1
For alpha decay the atomic number decreases by 2
Therefore the elements can never be the same
When would you say a radioactive substance has decayed
When a radioactive substance gives out radiation, it has decayed
