Radioactivity

Question 1

what is the alpha decay?

Answer 1

he particle

4 mass number
2 atomic number

Question 2

properties of alpha decay?

Answer 2

highly ionising
slow moving
low penetration - stopped by few cm of air

Question 3

what is beta decay?

Answer 3

electron released
high in energy
0 mass number
-1 atomic number

Question 4

properties of beta decay?

Answer 4

smaller than alpha
moderately ionising
fast moving
moderate penetration - stopped by aluminium foil

Question 4

properties of beta decay?

Answer 4

smaller than alpha
moderately ionising
fast moving
moderate penetration - stopped by aluminium foil

Question 5

what is gamma decay?

Answer 5

gamma ray emitted
high energy photon

mass number and atomic number unchanged

weakly ionising
but highly penetrating

Question 6

what are alpha decay used for?

Answer 6

smoke alarms

Question 7

what is beta radiation used for?

Answer 7

measure thickness of paper
tracers
to image certain parts of body

Question 8

what is gamma radiation used for?

Answer 8

sterilising medical equipment
radiotherapy
to kill cancer