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Physics GCSE > Radioactivity > Flashcards

Radioactivity Flashcards

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1
Q

What is radiation from uranium like?

A

Ionising

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2
Q

What are the three types of radiation?

A

Alpha, Beta and Gamma

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3
Q

What are substances radioactive?

A

They have an unstable nucleus

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4
Q

What does the Geiger Counter do?

A

Clicks every time a particle of radiation from a radioactive substance enters the Geiger Tube

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5
Q

What does Alpha decay emit?

A

2 protons and 2 neutrons

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6
Q

What does a nucleus lose during Alpha decay?

A

2 protons and 2 neutrons

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7
Q

What is emitted during Beta decay?

A

An electron

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8
Q

What happens in the nucleus during Beta decay?

A

A neutron turns into a proton

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9
Q

Where does nuclear radiation come from?

A

The nucleus of an atom

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10
Q

Why are some isotopes unstable?

A

Have too many protons or neutrons

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11
Q

How do nuclei become more stable?

A

Emit radiation

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12
Q

What is radioactive decay?

A

When a nucleus emits radiation to become more stable

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13
Q

What is the charge of Alpha radiation?

A

Positive

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14
Q

What is the charge of Beta radiation?

A

Negative

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15
Q

What is the charge of Gamma radiation?

A

Neutral

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16
Q

What is the atomic mass of Alpha radiation?

A

4

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17
Q

What is the atomic mass of Beta radiation?

A

Almost nothing

18
Q

What is the atomic mass of Gamma radiation?

A

No mass

19
Q

What is the speed of Alpha radiation?

A

Move at relatively slow speed compared to other particles

20
Q

What is the speed of Beta radiation?

A

Quite quick compared to Alpha particle

21
Q

What is the speed of Gamma radiation?

A

Speed of light

22
Q

What is Alpha radiation stopped by?

A

Paper or skin (goes through thin mica)

23
Q

What is Beta radiation stopped by?

A

Thin aluminium (goes through mica, skin and paper)

24
Q

What is Gamma radiation stopped by?

A

Anything but lead reduces gamma waves

25
Q

What is the most ionising radiation?

A

Gamma

26
Q

What is the least ionising radiation?

A

Alpha

27
Q

What is Activity?

A

The number of nuclei decaying per second

28
Q

What is Activity measured in?

A

Becquerel (Bq)

29
Q

What is 1 Bq equivalent to?

A

1 nuclei decaying per second

30
Q

What is half life?

A

The time taken for half the radioactive nuclei to decay

31
Q

What is contamination?

A

Where a radioactive material moves from one place to another

32
Q

What damages a person’s cells?

A

Ionising radiation

33
Q

What are the types of nuclear reactions?

A

Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion

34
Q

What does fission mean?

A

Splitting apart

35
Q

What happens in a nuclear fission reaction?

A

A big nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei

36
Q

What happens in a nuclear fusion reaction?

A

Two small nuclei fuse to form one big nucleus

37
Q

What are the products of nuclear fission reactions?

A

3 neutrons and energy

38
Q

Example of nuclear fission

A
  1. Neutron is absorbed by uranium nucleus
  2. A large unstable nucleus is formed
  3. The large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei - krypton and barium
  4. Three neutrons and energy are also released at the same time
39
Q

What are control rods?

A

Absorbs surplus neutrons to keep chain reactions under control

40
Q

What is coolant?

A

Extracts heat from reactor using a heat exchanger

Physics GCSE (9 decks)

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