Radiation Types Flashcards
What are isotopes?
An atoms with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. Most isotopes are unstable and will emit radiation in a bid to become stable
What is the symbol for alpha?
What is alpha radiation made up of?
2 protons and 2 neutrons (helium nucleas)
What is the range in the air for alpha radiation?
5-10 cm
What will stop alpha radiation?
Paper
How ionizing is Alpha radiation?
Highly
What does the beta symbol look like?
What is the range in air for beta radiation?
1 meter
What will stop beta radiation?
3-5mm of aluminium
How ionising is beta radiation?
Moderately
What is beta radiation made up of?
A fast moving electron
What is gamma radiation?
Energy in the form of waves
What is the range of gamma radiation in the air?
Several kms
What will stop gamma radiation?
5-10cm of lead or concrete
How ionizing is gamma?
Weakly
Which radiation type is most dangerous outside of the body?
Gamma radiation- it is most penetrating and is hardest to stop. It can penetrate through skin can cause damage to cells inside of the body
Which radiation type is most dangerous inside the body?
Alpha because once inside the body it can not get out and as it is the most ionizing it is most likely to mutate cells and cause cancer.
What happens during alpha emission?
If a nucleas emits an alpha particle, its mass number goes down by 4 and its atomic number goes down by 2 (make sure to practise doing some)
What happens if a nucleas emits a beta particle?
It will lose a neutron as it changes to a proton. The mass number will stay the same and the atomic number will go up by 1. (Practise some)
What happens during gamma emittion.
Gamma emittion occurs after an alpha or beta radiation occurs. It does not change its atomic structure but just removes energy from the nucleas. Gamma radiation has no mass or charge so none of these properties change during emission.
Why is alpha radiation most ionizing?
Because of its large mass, it is most likely to bump into other particles and knock electrons from them