Radiation

Question 1

What are alpha particles?

Answer 1

Helium nuclei

Question 2

Properties of Alpha

Answer 2

• Relatively big and slow moving
• do not penetrate far into materials and are stopped very quickly
• because of their size, alpha particles are strongly ionising, which means they bash into a lot of atoms and knock electrons off

Question 3

Beta particles are

Answer 3

Electrons

Question 4

Properties of Beta particles

Answer 4

beta are in between alpha and gamma in terms of properties
they move quite fast and they’re small
they penetrate moderately before colliding
they have a long range in air
they are moderately ionising
for every beta particle emitted, a neutron urns into a proton in the nucleus
they have no mass and a charge of -1

Question 5

Gamma rays are..

Answer 5

very short wavelength EM rays

Question 6

Properties of Gamma rays

Answer 6

gamma particles are the opposite to alpha particles
they penetrate very far into materials without being stopped and pass straight through air
this means that they are weakly ionian because they tend to pass through rather that collide with atoms, eventually they hit something and do damage
gamma rays have no mass and no charge

Question 7

what affects the amount of radiation we are exposed to?

Answer 7

location

occupation

Question 8

how do underground rocks affect radiation dose?

Answer 8

underground rocks such as granite can cause higher levels at the surface, especially if they release radioactive radon gas, which tends to get trapped in people’s houses

Question 9

How are nuclear industry workers affected by radiation dose

Answer 9

nuclear industry workers and uranium are exposed to up to 10x the amount of normal radiation
they wear protective masks and suits to prevent them inhaling or touching radioactive substances
they have regulars check ups and tests

Question 10

how are radiographers affected by radiation dose

Answer 10

radiographers work in hospitals using ionising radiation so are exposed to a higher risk of radiation exposure, they always wear lead aprons and then work behind lead screens to reduce the prolonged exposure to radiation

Question 11

how do high altitudes affect radiation dose

Answer 11

at high altitudes, e.g. jet planes, the background radiation increases due to more exposure to cosmic rays. This means that commercial pilots are at risk.