Radiation Flashcards
What is alpha decay
Helium nucleus
What is beta decay
An electron
What is gamma radiation
High energy waves
What is a half life
The time it takes for the activity to half
What is background radiation
Radiation always present around us
What are sources of natural radiation
Granite, cosmic rays
What are sources of artificial background radiation
Nuclear and medical waste
What is ionisation + it’s dangers
When an electron gets knocked from an atom leaving a remaining positive ion
this can cause cells to self replicate and cause cancer
Which decay has highest ionisation
Alpha
2 detectors of radiation
Geiger muller tube
Photographic film
What material is a control rod and what does it do
Boron, it absorbs neutrons
What material are fuel rods
Uranium
What material is the moderator and what does it do
Graphite, it slows neutrons which increases fission
What material is the shield and what does it do
Concrete, it absorbs neutrons
Describe nuclear fission
Large number of unstable nuclei bombarded by neutrons which cause them to split and release huge amounts of nuclear energy ,
One large nuclei splits and 2-3 neutrons are fires out to create a chain reaction
