Radiation Flashcards
What does it mean when unstable isotope undergo radioactive decay?
Means they emit something so they can change slightly and become more stable
What does radioactive material mean
Consists of unstable isotopes that can decay
What are alpha particles made up of
2 protons and 2 neutrons (like a helium atom)
What charge do alpha particles have and why
They have a charge of 2+ because they don’t have any electrons
Which type of radiation can’t penetrate far into materials
Alpha
Can be absorbed by a single sheet of paper
Alpha
Their large size and strong charge makes them very strongly ionising
Alpha
Have a charge of -1 and virtually no mass
Beta
What are beta made up of
Just electrons
Pretty tiny= moderately ionising
Beta
Can penetrate moderately far into materials = 7 m of air of 5mm of aluminium to stop them
Beta
Aren’t particles
Gamma rays
What are gamma rays
Waves of electromagnetic radiation
Doesn’t have a mass or charge
Gamma
Weakly ionising
Gamma
Why are gamma rays weakly ionising
Pass through materials rather than colliding with any of the atoms
Can penetrate really far into material before being stopped
Gamma
Can travel long distances through air
Gamma
Emission of a neutron
If a nucleus contains too many neutrons making it unstable it can throw out a neutron to increase its stability
