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)
