Radiation

Question 1

what is radio decay

Answer 1

the unstable nucleus which has become stable over time spontaneously by emitting ionising radiation

Question 2

what is known as the radioactive substances

Answer 2

substances that are being radioactively decayed

Question 3

what are the 3 main types of ionising radiations

Answer 3

alpha= produced by alpha decay
= release Helium nuclei
beta= produced by beta decay
= release electrons
gamma= produced by gamma
decay
=release a high energy
electromagnetic wave
and has a higher
frequency

Question 4

what are primary methods to measure radiation

Answer 4

Geiger counter
photographic frame
cloud chamber

Question 5

what are the properties of gamma radiation

Answer 5

• weakly ionising
• can be stopped only by metres of concrete or lead
• penetrate the most distance than alpha and beta
• does the lowest damage than alpha and beta when penetrating

Question 6

what are the properties of alpha radiation

Answer 6

-alpha particles have 2 protons and 2 neutrons
- relative mass of 4
- this makes it heavy and strongly ionising
- can be stopped by a small amount of matter
- does a highest damage than gamma and beta
- penetrate the lowest distance than beta and gamma

Question 7

what are the properties of beta radiation

Answer 7

• made up of high energy electrons
• more ionising than gamma but less than alpha
• can be passed through a paper but stopped by a aluminium foil
• does a lower damage than alpha but more than gamma when penetrating
• penetrate more distance than alpha but less than gamma

Question 8

what happens at the alpha decay

Answer 8

the nucleus lose an alpha particle - 2 protons and 2 neutrons and therefore forms a new element

Question 9

what happens at the beta decay

Answer 9

a electron is being decayed to form a proton and a neutron - therefore that electron is being kicked out by the nucleus

Question 10

what happens at the gamma decay

Answer 10

composition of the nucleus is unchanged- it is relaxing

Question 11

what are the charges and masses of the radioactive particles

Answer 11

ALPHA - charge = +2
- mass = 4
BETA - charge = -1
- mass = too small
GAMMA - charge = 0
- mass = 0

Question 12

which type of radiation forms new elements

Answer 12

beta
alpha

Question 13

what happens at the equation for alpha decay

Answer 13

In alpha decay, 4 nucleons are lost in the form of an alpha particle. 2 protons are lost so the initial atom becomes a different element

Question 14

what is the half life of a radioactive substance

Answer 14

the average time taken to radioactive nuclei to have

Question 15

what are ions

Answer 15

particles which being charged by gaining or losing electrons

Question 16

what are the negative health problems caused by ionising radiations

Answer 16

cause cell damages - mutations that lead to cancers

Question 17

what are the safety precautions we should follow when using ionising radiations

Answer 17

• handling - wear rubber gloves
• reduce exposure
• do not eat food when using
• storing in lead iron boxes and lock

Question 18

what are the types of radioactive substance exposures

Answer 18

Irradation
Contamidation

Question 19

what is called irradiation

Answer 19

it is when object near radioactive substances being exposed to nuclear radiation

*can be prevent by storing in lead iron boxes

Question 20

what does contamination of radioactive substances mean

Answer 20

when radioactive atoms or molecules get into other materials

• harmful -skin cancers

Question 21

types of contamination

Answer 21

ALPHA - hardest to penetrate -
cannot pass through the
body easily
- cause mutations - most
ionising
BETA - not much harmful
GAMMA - least harmful