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S3 Physics > Radiation and EM Spectrum > Flashcards

Radiation and EM Spectrum Flashcards

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1
Q

What is radiation?

A

Radiation is the transfer of energy through space by electromagnetic waves or particles.

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2
Q

What are the types of radiation?

A

The main types of radiation are alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.

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3
Q

What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

A

The speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is approximately 300,000,000 m/s (3 x 10^8 m/s).

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4
Q

Name the seven types of electromagnetic radiation in order from longest to shortest wavelength.

A

Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays.

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5
Q

Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the highest frequency?

A

Gamma rays.

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6
Q

Which type of electromagnetic radiation is used in mobile phones?

A

Microwaves.

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7
Q

What is ionizing radiation?

A

Ionizing radiation is radiation that carries enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions.

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8
Q

Give an example of a non-ionizing radiation.

A

Radio waves, microwaves, or visible light.

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9
Q

What is the wavelength range of visible light?

A

The wavelength of visible light ranges from approximately 400 nm to 700 nm.

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10
Q

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency in electromagnetic waves?

A

The shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency, and vice versa. The product of wavelength and frequency is the speed of light.

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11
Q

What is a common use of infrared radiation?

A

Infrared radiation is commonly used in remote controls and thermal imaging.

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12
Q

How does ultraviolet radiation affect human skin?

A

Ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer.

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13
Q

What material can stop alpha radiation?

A

A sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air can stop alpha particles.

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14
Q

Which type of radiation is most penetrating?

A

Gamma radiation is the most penetrating.

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15
Q

What type of radiation is used in medical X-rays?

A

X-rays (a type of electromagnetic radiation) are used in medical imaging.

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16
Q

What is the unit used to measure radiation dose?

A

Sievert (Sv).

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17
Q

What are microwaves used for, apart from communication?

A

Microwaves are also used for cooking food in microwave ovens.

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18
Q

How can we protect ourselves from harmful radiation?

A

By using shielding materials (like lead for gamma rays), limiting exposure time, and increasing distance from the radiation source.

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19
Q

What is the main difference between alpha and beta radiation?

A

Alpha particles are made of two protons and two neutrons (helium nuclei), while beta particles are high-speed electrons or positrons.

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20
Q

What are some natural sources of radiation?

A

Cosmic rays from space, radon gas, and radioactive elements in the Earth’s crust.

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21
Q

How does a Geiger-Müller tube detect radiation?

A

A Geiger-Müller tube detects radiation by producing an electrical signal when radiation ionizes the gas inside the tube.

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22
Q

What is a common use of a scintillation detector?

A

A scintillation detector is used to measure radiation in medical imaging and radiation safety monitoring.

23
Q

What is one environmental advantage of using nuclear power?

A

Nuclear power produces no carbon emissions during operation, which helps reduce greenhouse gases.

24
Q

What is one major environmental risk of using nuclear power?

A

Nuclear power generates radioactive waste, which remains hazardous for thousands of years.

25
Q

Name two types of radiation emitted during radioactive decay.

A

Alpha and beta radiation.

26
Q

What kind of radiation is stopped by a sheet of aluminum?

A

Beta radiation.

27
Q

What is the main difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation?

A

Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, while non-ionizing radiation does not.

28
Q

Why are gamma rays used in medical treatments like cancer therapy?

A

Gamma rays can penetrate deeply into tissues and are used to destroy cancer cells.

29
Q

How does radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum benefit telecommunications?

A

Microwaves and radio waves are used for wireless communication, including television, mobile phones, and Wi-Fi.

30
Q

What safety precautions should be taken when working with radioactive materials?

A

Workers should use lead shielding, limit exposure time, maintain distance from sources, and wear protective clothing.

31
Q

How does ultraviolet radiation affect the human body?

A

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can damage skin cells, leading to sunburn or increasing the risk of skin cancer.

32
Q

What type of radiation is used in household smoke detectors?

A

Alpha radiation, typically from a small amount of Americium-241.

33
Q

What are the uses of radio waves?

A

Radio waves are used for broadcasting radio and TV signals, communications (e.g., mobile phones), and satellite transmissions.

34
Q

What are the hazards of radio waves?

A

Radio waves generally have no significant hazards at common exposure levels.

35
Q

What detectors are used for radio waves?

A

Aerials and radio receivers are used to detect radio waves.

36
Q

What are the uses of microwaves?

A

Microwaves are used for cooking food, satellite communications, and mobile phone networks.

37
Q

What are the hazards of microwaves?

A

Microwaves can cause internal heating of body tissues if exposed to high levels.

38
Q

What detectors are used for microwaves?

A

Microwave receivers or special aerials detect microwaves.

39
Q

What are the uses of infrared radiation?

A

Infrared radiation is used for remote controls, thermal imaging, and heating devices.

40
Q

What are the hazards of infrared radiation?

A

Infrared radiation can cause skin burns if the exposure is high enough.

41
Q

What detectors are used for infrared radiation?

A

Photodiodes, thermometers, and infrared cameras are used to detect infrared radiation.

42
Q

What are the uses of visible light?

A

Visible light is used for illumination, photography, and vision.

43
Q

What are the hazards of visible light?

A

Intense visible light can cause damage to the eyes, such as blindness.

44
Q

What detectors are used for visible light?

A

Eyes, cameras, and photodiodes detect visible light.

45
Q

What are the uses of ultraviolet radiation?

A

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is used in fluorescent lamps, sterilization, and security marking.

46
Q

What are the hazards of ultraviolet radiation?

A

Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer and eye damage.

47
Q

What detectors are used for ultraviolet radiation?

A

Fluorescent materials and UV photodiodes detect ultraviolet radiation.

48
Q

What are the uses of X-rays?

A

X-rays are used in medical imaging, airport security, and material testing.

49
Q

What are the hazards of X-rays?

A

X-rays can damage cells and tissues, leading to an increased risk of cancer with high or prolonged exposure.

50
Q

What detectors are used for X-rays?

A

Photographic plates and digital X-ray detectors are used to detect X-rays.

51
Q

What are the uses of gamma rays?

A

Gamma rays are used in cancer treatment, sterilization of medical equipment, and food preservation.

52
Q

What are the hazards of gamma rays?

A

Gamma rays are highly penetrating and can cause cancer or radiation sickness due to cellular damage.

53
Q

What detectors are used for gamma rays?

A

Geiger-Müller tubes and scintillation counters detect gamma rays.

S3 Physics (4 decks)

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