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Physics GCSE > Radiation GCSE > Flashcards

Radiation GCSE Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the radius of an atom?

A

1x10^-10m

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2
Q

List 3 causes of background radiation.

A
  1. Radon gas in the rocks
  2. Cosmic rays
    3.Medical equipment
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3
Q

What precaution should one take to ensure an accurate result when measuring radiation?

A

Subtract the amount of background radiation from the total answer.

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4
Q

What is the term for exposure to radiation?

A

Irradiation.

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5
Q

What does irradiation mean?

A

Exposure to radiation, NOT make it radioactive.

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6
Q

What does contamination mean?

A

If an object has a radioactive substance introduced to it

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7
Q

What are methods of reducing irradiation?

A

Standing behind lead-lined boxes, Using remote controlled arms when working with radiation, simply being in a different room.

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8
Q

What is alpha radiation? State its charge and penetration.

A

Alpha radiation is high velocity alpha particles - helium nuclei. They have a charge of 2+ and low penetration.

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9
Q

What is beta- radiation? State its charge and penetration.

A

Beta- radiation is high velocity beta- particles (rogue electrons). That have a charge of 1- and medium penetration.

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10
Q

How does beta- decay occur?

A

A neutron splitting into a proton and electron, with the former remaining in the atoms nucleus and the electron being emitted as a beta- particle. Caused by unstable neutrons.

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11
Q

What is beta+ radiation? State its charge and penetration.

A

Beta+ radtiation is high velocity beta+ particles (rogue positrons) that have a charge of +1 and medium penetration.

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12
Q

How does beta+ decay occur?

A

An unstable proton splitting into a neutron and positron, with the former remaining in the atoms nucleus, and the positron being emitted as a beta+ particle. Caused by unstable protons.

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13
Q

What is gamma radiation? State its charge and penetration.

A

High energy EM waves released by an unstable nucleus, typically after a or b- decay, when the nucleus remains in an excited state with excess energy. It has no charge, but the highest penetration.

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14
Q

State 2 uses for alpha radiation.

A
  1. Smoke alarms
  2. Cancer treatment (radiotherapy)
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15
Q

State 3 uses for beta radiation

A
  1. Production of paper and aluminium foil. (-)
  2. Treatment of eye and bone cancer (-)
  3. PET Scanners (Positron Emission Tomography) (+)
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16
Q

State 2 uses for gamma radiation

A
  1. Sterilizing food and medical equipment
  2. External radiotherapy
17
Q

What is neutron radiation? State its charge and penetration.

A

Emission of neutron particles. They do not have a charge. The penetration depends on the neutrons energy..

18
Q

What is neutron emission used for?

A

Running nuclear fission in reactors.

19
Q

What is the apparatus used to measure radiation?

A

Geiger-Muller Tube and Counter.

20
Q

What is decay rate measured in and what does it signify?

A

Measured in becquerels (Bq), 1 Bq represents 1 decay per second.

21
Q

What is half-life?

A

The amount of time it takes for the number of radioactive nuclei to halve.

22
Q

How are substances with both short and long half-lives dangerous?

A

Short half-lives typically emit high radiation in a short amount of time and are highly dangerous, but quickly become safe. Long half-lives can emit radiation of millions of years and irradiate surrounding area.

23
Q

What is nuclear fission?

A

The splitting of a large, unstable nucleus into smaller atoms. E.g Uranium into Krypton, Barium and 2 neutrons.

24
Q

What triggers nuclear fission?

A

The absorption of a neutron by an unstable fissile nucleus, causing it to split.

25
Q

Give 2 uses of nuclear fission.

A

-Nuclear reactors in power plants
-Nuclear weapons

26
Q

How is fission sustained?

A

Nuclear fission causes the emission of more than 1 neutron. This means that the additional neutrons will be absorbed by other nuclei and trigger a chain reaction.

27
Q

What is nuclear fusion?

A

The fusion of light elements such as hydrogen into helium, done by collision of high velocity hydrogen nuclei.

28
Q

Why do the products of fusion not have the same mass as the reactants?

A

Some of the reactant mass is converted into energy as stated by E=mc^2.

29
Q
A

Physics GCSE (6 decks)

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