Radiation Flashcards
Use of nuclear radiation
Sterilisation, cancer treatment, smoke alarms
Sterilisation
Gamma rays can be used to kill bacteria, mould and insects in food, it prolongs the shelf life. Also to sterilise hospital equipment such as plastic syringes that would be damaged if heated
Cancer treatment
The tumour can be bombarded with nuclear radiation to kill the tumorous cells, though the amount of radiation needs to be limited
The average background radiation dose received by the UK general population
2.2 mSv
The legal limit for additional radiation dose from artificial sources for a member of the public
1 mSv
2.2 mSv
The average background radiation dose received by the UK general population
The legal limit for additional radiation dose from artificial sources for designated radiation workers
20 mSv
The most ionising radiation
Alpha
The most penetrating radiation
Gamma
Advantages of using nuclear power to produce electricity
-unlike fossil fuels, nuclear fuel does not release large quantities of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere
-fossil fuels are running out, so nuclear power provides a convenient way of producing electricity
disadvantages of using nuclear power to produce electricity
-after a few decades nuclear power stations themselves will have to be decommissioned
-nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste, some of which is very difficult to deal with
activity
Activity is the number of nuclear disintegrations in a period of time.
Becquerels (Bq)
definition of half life
the half life is the average time taken for the number of radioactive nucleui in an isotope to halve
Beta charge + mass?
no mass, charge of -1
Alpha charge + mass?
mass of 4, charge of 2 (helium nuclei)
How is ionising radiation harmful to humans?
low doses can damage living cells by causijg mutations in the DNA
unit of equivalent dose
Sieverts (Sv)
Ways to protect against radiation
-film badges
-gloves or protective clothing
what are film badges
film badges are pieces of photographic film that turn darker when they absorb radiation. these can be used to monitor the amount of radiation a person receives
sources of background radiation
radon gas, rocks and
buildings (such as granite), food and drink, cosmic rays, medical
uses and a very small percentage from nuclear power and
weapons
unit of equivalent dose rate
Equivalent dose rate is measured in Sieverts/given time (may be seconds, hours or days depending on the question context.
