radiation

Question 1

Define radioactivity

Answer 1

It is the spontaneous breaking up of an unstable nuclei with the emission of one or more types of radiation

Question 2

give an example of a radioactive isotope

Answer 2

carbon 14

Question 3

what is alpha

Answer 3

Is a helium nucleus

Question 4

what is gamma

Answer 4

high energy electromagnetic waves

Question 5

what is beta

Answer 5

fast moving electrons

Question 6

what is the order from highest to lowest penetrating power

Answer 6

Gamma-beta-alpha

Question 7

does gamma have a mass?

Answer 7

no

Question 8

what is the biggest mass type of radiation

Answer 8

alpha- helium nuclei larger than electrons

Question 9

what is the order of speed of radiation?

Answer 9

gamma-beta-alpha

Question 10

where are the three types of electrons deflected/

Answer 10

alpha- towards negative plate
beta- towards positive plate
gamma- no deflection

Question 11

is alpha faster than beta

Answer 11

no beta is it lighter and a smaller mass

Question 12

what is the use of gamma radiation

Answer 12

cobalt-60
Sterilises medical equipment

Question 13

what is the use of beta radiation

Answer 13

carbon 14 dating

Question 14

what is the use of alpha radiation

Answer 14

americium 241
Smoke detectors

Question 15

give example of background radiation

Answer 15

Radon gas
Medical tests
Nuclear weapons
Food

Question 15

give some differences between chemical and nuclear reactions

Answer 15

nuclear-
a new element is formed
nuclear radiation is released
involves a change in the nucleus

chemical-
involves electrons only
no new element in formed
no release of nuclear radiation

Question 16

what measures background radiation?

Answer 16

geiger counter

Question 17

define nuclear reaction

Answer 17

it is the process that alters the composition, structure, or energy of an atomic nucleus

Question 18

what reaction must occur to chnage lead into gold

Answer 18

a nuclear as a chemical only involves the chnage in electrons and in order to change to a different element there needs to be a change in the nucleus ie proton numbers

Question 19

what is the nucleus called from which radiation is emitted called after radiation has been emitted

Answer 19

parent nucleus

Question 20

what occurs in alpha decay

Answer 20

a helium nucleus is releases

Question 21

how is the new element formed called

Answer 21

daughter nucleus

Question 22

what is the chnage in mass and atomic number between the parent and daughter nucleus in alpha decay

Answer 22

daughter nucleus
will have -4 mass number
will have -2 atomic number

Question 23

what is beta decay releasing

Answer 23

electron

Question 24

what is the chnage in mass and atomic number between the parent and daughter nucleus in beta decay

Answer 24

the mass number will stay the same the atomic number will increase by 1

Question 25

define half life

Answer 25

is is the time taken for the radioactivity of a radioactive sample to fall by half the original value

Question 26

define carbon dating

Answer 26

is is a technique used to determine the age of an object containing carbon. It is based on the ratio of carbon 12 to carbon 14 in an object

Question 27

how can you use carbon dating to find how long ago an animal died

Answer 27

Carbon 12 is constant in living organisms and is a stable isotope. However, carbon 14 is also in animals and while an animal is alive is constantly being replaced as an animals takes in food for respiration. When an animal dies the carbon 14 is no longer being replaced so begin to decay by beta decay and is no longer replaced. By measuring the ratio of carbon 14 to carbon 12 you can calculate how long ago they died.