Radiation

Question 1

What are atoms made up of

Answer 1

Protons
Neutrons
Electrons

Question 2

What is the nucleus made up o?

Answer 2

Neutrons
Protons
(Mostly empty space)

Question 3

Protons are….

Answer 3

Positively charged

Question 4

Neutrons are

Answer 4

Neutral

Question 5

Electrons are

Answer 5

Negatively charged

Question 6

What are the reasons for unstable atoms?

Answer 6

Too much mass
Too much charge
Too much energy

Question 7

What is radiation

Answer 7

An unstable nucleus stabilising itself by emitting some energy, mass or charge.

Question 8

What are the three main types of radiation

Answer 8

Alpha
Beta
Gamma

Question 9

Alpha

Answer 9

2 protons and 2 neutrons
Heavy
Easily absorbed
Tiny range in air

Question 10

How can we Bloch alpha radiation

Answer 10

Sheet of paper

Question 11

Beta

Answer 11

Fast moving electron ejected from the nucleus
Neutron decays to a proton and electron
Then the electron is ejected
Longer range than alpha

Question 12

How can we block beta

Answer 12

Few mm of aluminium

Question 13

Gamma

Answer 13

Electromagnetic wave
No mass
No charge
Infinite range in air

Question 14

How can we block gamma rays

Answer 14

Few cm of lead

Few metres of concrete

Question 15

ION

Answer 15

Charged particle

Question 16

Ionisation

Answer 16

Process of turning a neutral particle (atom) into a charged particle
By removing an electron

Question 17

What radiation causes the most ionisations per millimetre

Answer 17

Alpha has the greatest ionisation density

Question 18

What is activity (A)

Answer 18

Number of nuclei decaying per second

Question 19

What is the unit of activity

Answer 19

Becquerel (Bq)

Question 20

What is absorbed does

Answer 20

Measure of the radiation energy absorbed per kg of tissue

Question 21

Unit of absorbed dose (D)

Answer 21

Gray (Gy)

Huge unit

Question 22

Radiation weighting factor (Wr)

Answer 22

Number representing how dangerous the radiation is

Question 23

What is the unit of equivalent dose

Answer 23

Sieverts (Sv)

Question 24

Equivalent dose rate

Answer 24

Length of time in which an equivalent does is received

Shorter the time = greater the harm

Question 25

Unit for equivalent dose rate

Answer 25

Siverts per second (Svs-1)

Question 26

Half life

Answer 26

Time taken for the activity to half

Question 27

What is an atom

Answer 27

Smallest fragment of matter that retains the qualities of the element

Question 28

What is an element

Answer 28

Only one type of atom

Question 29

Molecule

Answer 29

Combined atoms

Question 30

Compound

Answer 30

Substance containing two or more types of atom

Question 31

Radioactive count rate

Answer 31

Measure of the background radiation in a certain time

Question 32

What is nuclear fission

Answer 32

Occurs when a neutron is fired at a heavy nucleus

Nucleus breaks into 2 smaller nuclei and releases neutrons + energy

Question 33

3 sub-atomic particles

Answer 33

Proton (1+)
Neutron (no charge)
Electron (1-)

Question 34

Nuclear fusion

Answer 34

Two smaller nuclei are fused together

This produces 1 large nucleus + neutrons + energy

Question 35

Absorbed dose symbol and unit

Answer 35

Grays (Gy)

D

Question 36

Main causes of background radiation

Answer 36

rocks and soil that contain radioactive material
The human body
Cosmic rays

Question 37

Symbol for activity and its unit

Answer 37

A

Bq

Question 38

Applications of nuclear radiation

Answer 38

Tracers- locate cracks in water pipes gamma cements in medicine
Sterilisation- hospital equipment and food
Treatment- cancer (cobalt - 60)

Question 39

Element

Answer 39

Only one type of atom

Question 40

Molecules

Answer 40

Combined atoms

Question 41

Compound

Answer 41

Two or more types of atoms