Radiation Flashcards
Tell me about alpha radiation (α).
- highly ionising
- low penetration
- stopped by paper
- range in air 5 cm
What is alpha radiation (α)?
A helium nuclei or loss of two protons and two neutrons
How do you do alpha equations?
Atomic mass decreases by 4, atomic number decreases by 2
Tell me about beta radiation (β).
- mid ionising ability
- mid penetration
- stopped by aluminium
- range in air 1 metre
What is beta radiation (β)?
Electron formed when a neutron turns into a proton
How do you do beta equations?
Atomic mass doesn’t change, atomic number increases by 1
Tell me about gamma radiation (γ).
- low ionising ability
- high penetration
- stopped by several inches of lead or metres of concrete
- range in air unlimited
What is gamma radiation (γ)?
An EMS wave - all the radiation that exists
What is background radiation?
Low-level radiation
What is contamination?
The unwanted presence of materials containing radioactive atoms
on other materials
How long is something radioactive (contaminated) for?
The object is radioactive as long as the contaminant is in contact
with it
What is irradiation?
The process of exposing an object to nuclear radiation
How long is something radioactive (irradiated) for?
It does not cause the object to become radioactive.
