Radioactivity Flashcards
what was john daltons model of the atom?
1803
Said all matter made from tiny particles called atoms
Said that atoms cannot be divided
what was jj thompsons model of the atom?
1897
‘Plum pudding model’
Atom is ball of positive charge with electrons embedded
DISCOVERED ELECTRON
what was earnest rutherfords model of the atom?
1905
Gold foil experiment
Directed a beam of ‘alpha particles’ at a very thin gold leaf suspended in a vacuum.
Most alpha particles went straight through
Some went bounced off at angles
Atom is mostly empty space
Positive charge must be in very small part of atom
DISCOVERED NUCLEUS
what was neils bohrs model of the atom?
1913
Suggested that the electrons orbited the nucleus in different energy levels or at specific distances from the nucleus
DISCOVERED ELECTRON SHELLS
what was james chadwicks model of the atom?
1932
Said that nucleus must contain neutral particle to add up to mass
DISCOVERED NEUTRON
what are isotopes?
A different form of the same element atoms with the same number of protons but diffrent number of neutrons.
what is radioactive decay?
when unstable isotopes decay into other elemnts and give out radiation as they try to become more stable.
what do radioactiuve substances spit out?
ionising radiation from thore nucleus
what can radioactive substabces also release when they decay?
neutrons
what is ironising radiation?
radiation that knocks electrons off atoms creating positive ions,
the ionising power of a radiation source is how easily it can do this
what is alpha radiation?
when an alpha particle is emmited from the nucleus.
what is an alpha particle?
2 neutrons and 2 protons like a helium nucleus
what can alpha particles be absorbed by?
a sheet of paper
what are the alpha radiation appliances in the home?
smoke detectors - it ironises air particles, using a current to flow, if there is smoke in the air, it binds to the ions meaning the current stops and the alarm sounds
what is a beta particle?
a fast moving electron released by the nucleus.
what are beta paricles absorbed by?
a sheet of alliminium
for every beta particle emitted ……
a neutron in the nucleus has turned into a proton
what are beta emmitters used for?
to test the thinkness of sheets of metal, as the particles are not immediatley absporbed by the material like alpha radiation would be and do not penetrate as far as gamma rays. therefore slight variations in thickness affect the amount of radiation passing through the sheet.
what are gamma rays?
waves of electromagnetic radiation realeased by the nucleus.
why are gamma rays weakly ironising?
theytend to pass through rather than collide with atoms. eventually they hit something and do damage
what can gamma rays be absprbed by?
thick sheets of lead or meters of concrete.
what are the uses o gamma rays?
fibre optic cable use visible light to transmit data
ultraviolet radiation gives you a suntan
used in medicine ( x rays)
what is the charge of apla particles?
+2