Radiation (Assessment Specific) Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the structure of an atom

A

Positively charged nucleus with neutrons and protons. Outer shell, with electrons.

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2
Q

What is the size of a nucleus compared to an atom?

A

Nucleus is tiny compared to the whole atom.

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3
Q

Where is most of the mass in an atom?

A

In the nucleus

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4
Q

What are the size of small molecules when compared to an atom?

A

Small molecules are bigger than an atom

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5
Q

What is an isotope?

A

The Same atom, with a different number of neutrons

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6
Q

13
C
6

What do all these pieces mean?

A
13 = Neutrons + Protons = mass number
6 = Protons, usually electrons = atomic number
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7
Q

What can the atomic number be used to tell us?

A

What element it is.

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8
Q

What’s an easy way to tell which ones the atomic number?

A

The atomic number will always be smaller than the mass number

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9
Q

What differs between an isotope and the atom on the periodic table?

A

Isotopes have a different mass number

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10
Q

What is the charge and relative mass of a proton?

A

Charge + 1

Relative mass 1

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11
Q

What is the charge and relative mass of a neutron?

A

Charge 0

Relative mass 1

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12
Q

What is the charge and relative mass of a electron?

A

Charge -1

Relative mass 0

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13
Q

What is the charge and relative mass of a positron?

A

Charge +1

Relative mass 0

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14
Q

What is a positron?

A

Exactly the same as an electron but with a positive charge

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15
Q

What does it mean for an atom to be a neutral atom?

A

Number of protons = number of electrons

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16
Q

What does it mean for an atom to have a stable nuclei?

A

Balance of protons and neutrons is correct: same as atom on periodic table

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17
Q

How do electrons orbit the nucleus is an atom?

A

At different distances, first shell is different distances from nucleus in different atoms

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18
Q

What happens if you give energy to an electron?

A

It moves up one or several shells. If it gains enough, the electron will leave the atom and the atom will be a positive ion.

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19
Q

What happens if you take energy away from an electron?

A

It moves down a shell or several and emits visible light, with amount of energy dictating light colour

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20
Q

What is nuclear radiation?

A

Radiation from the nucleus

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21
Q

What is the symbol for alpha radiation? What is the structure of an atom emitting alpha radiation?

A

a, 2protons + 2neutrons

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22
Q

What is the symbol for beta minus radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release beta minus radiation?

A

ß-, electron emitted when a neutron turns into a proton

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23
Q

What is the symbol for beta plus radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release beta plus radiation?

A

ß+, proton turns into a neutron and emits a positron

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24
Q

What is the symbol for gamma radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release gamma radiation?

A

γ, nuclei rearrange themselves sad emit a wave of energy

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25
Q

What is the symbol for neutron radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release neutron radiation?

A

n, a neutron is emitted

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26
Q

What does all nuclear radiation do?

A

Ionises

27
Q

What is background radiation?

A

The natural occurrence of radiation, present all the time

28
Q

What is Radon gas produced by?

A

Uranium in rock decays, producing Radon gas

29
Q

What are three sources of Background Radiation?

A

Cosmic, buildings, food, medical, nuclear power station

30
Q

What two things are used to measure radioactivity?

A

Photographic film and Geiger counter

31
Q

How does a Geiger counter detect radiation?

A

Inside a Geiger counter is an easily ionised gas. When gas is ionised, electrons flow. Each time the electron completes the circuit, the Geiger counter counts.

32
Q

What is flow of electrons called?

A

Current

33
Q

What is the penetration and ionisation of alpha radiation?

A

Penetration= 3cm through air, stopped by paper

Ionisation: highly ionising, steals 2 electrons

34
Q

What is the penetration and ionisation of beta radiation?

A

Penetration: 2-4meters in air, stopped by thin aluminium or thick card
Ionisation: moderate

35
Q

What is the penetration and ionisation of gamma radiation?

A

Penetration; Kilometers in air, stopped by thick lead and concrete
Ionisation; very low

36
Q

What is ionisation?

A

Ability to take an electron from another atom

37
Q

What does a billiard ball model represent an atom as?

A

Solid mass

38
Q

What does a plum pudding model represent an atom as?

A

Solid with positive bits in a sea of negative

39
Q

What does a Rutherford model represent an atom as?

A

Empty space with tiny positive nucleus and electrons around the outside

40
Q

What does a bohrs model represent an atom as?

A

Electrons in shells around a nucleus containing neutrons and protons

41
Q

Gamma radiation ionises a atom. What is the effect on the mass number and atomic number?

A

Everything stays the same, there’s no change

42
Q

Alpha radiation particle of
4
a
2

ionises a atom of

14
C
6

What will it produce?

A

10
Be
4

+

4
He
2

43
Q

Beta minus radiation particle of
0
Bminus
-1

ionises a atom of

14
C
6

What will it produce?

A

14
N
1

+

0
B
-1

44
Q

Beta plus radiation particle of
0
BPlus
1

ionises a atom of

14
C
6

What will it produce?

A

14
B
5

+

0
B
1

45
Q

Neutron radiation ionises a atom of

14
C
6

What will it produce?

A

13
C
6

+

1
N
0

46
Q

After emitting alpha beta or neutron radiation, what may also be emitted?

A

Gamma

47
Q

What happens to rate of decay over time?

A

As time goes on, activity decreases at a decreasing rate (rate it’s decreasing at gets slower

48
Q

What will a half life graph look like?

A

It has a gentle curve of best fit

49
Q

What is radioactive activity measured in?

A

Becquerel

Bq

50
Q

What are the two ways to find half life on a graph?

A

Half the number of where the curve meets the y axis. Get to that number on y axis, then draw out till you meet curve. Then go down from that point, and where it lands is the half life.

Choose a number on y axis, draw out till meet curve then draw down to a point. Half the number on y axis, then draw out till meet curve then draw down to a point. Take away the smallest point number from the biggest, answer is half life.

51
Q

On a half life graph, what is the y axis?

A

Activity

52
Q

On a half life graph, what is the x axis?

A

Time

53
Q

What is half life?

A

Time taken for the activity of a radioactive substance to decrease by half

54
Q

Why is half life useful?

A

Gives us some idea of how much of the substance will be active after a period of time

55
Q

The half life of carbon -14 is 5700 years. How long would it take for only 1/16th of the carbon to remain

A
1
1/2 )
1/4 )
1/8 ).     4 half lives
1/16 )

4 x 5700 = 22,800 years

56
Q

Einsteinium can be produced after a nuclear bomb has been detonated. It decays to berkelium, with a half life of 20 days. How long will it take for the ratio between berkelium and einsteinium to reach 1:7

A
E > B
8:0 )-
(Start at 8 because 7 + 1 = 8)
4:4 )
2:6 ).    3 half life
1:7

3 x 20 = 60days

57
Q

What are the dangers of being exposed to radiation?

A

Radiation burns, cancer and death

58
Q

What are three precautions taken to ensure safety of people exposed to radiation?

A

Handle source with tongs, keep source in lead lined containers, do not point source at self or others, always wear gloves, wear eye protection

59
Q

What is irradiation?

A

When someone is exposed to radiation from a nearby source

60
Q

What is contamination?

A

When someone gets particles of a radiation source in their body

61
Q

How do you stop irradiation?

A

Moving away from the source

62
Q

How do you stop contamination?

A

Stops when source is finished decaying

63
Q

Would gamma be more dangerous irradiating or contaminating? Why?

A

Irradiating as it travels long distances, contamination would move away before ionising

64
Q

Would gamma be more dangerous irradiating or contaminating? Why?

A

Contaminating, it will ionise inside your body causing cancer or mutations