Radioactivity

Question 1

What is an Isotope?

Answer 1

An isotope in an element with the same number or protons but a different number of neutrons. Has a different atomic mass, but same atomic number.

Question 2

What is ionisation power?

Answer 2

The ability of the radiation to knock electrons off stable atoms, this turning them into ions.

Question 3

Unit used for activity

Answer 3

Bequerel (Bq)

Question 4

Electrons have ? atomic mass units (amu). What is “?”

Answer 4

”?” = 0 amu

Question 5

Neutrons have ? atomic mass units (amu). What is “?”

Answer 5

”?” = -1 amu

Question 6

Protons have ? atomic mass units (amu). What is “?”

Answer 6

”?” = -1 amu

Question 7

Mass of alpa particles?

Answer 7

6.642 x 10-4

Question 8

Charge for alpa particles?

Answer 8

+2

Question 9

Alpha ionisation power?

Answer 9

Very high

Question 10

Alpa penetration power?

Answer 10

Very low

Question 11

Mass of beta particles?

Answer 11

1/1837 amu

Question 12

Beta particle charge?

Answer 12

-1

Question 13

Beta ionisation power?

Answer 13

Intermediate

Question 14

Beta penetration Power?

Answer 14

Intermediate

Question 15

What is irradiation?

Answer 15

It is exposing objects to beams of radiation. It damdages living cells. It is used for killing bacteria.

Question 16

What is contamination?

Answer 16

When objects have a radiactive material into it. An apple exposed to radiation is IRRADIATED, but an apple injected with radiation is CONTAMINATED.

Question 17

Radioactivity uses (2)

Answer 17

• Sterilisation of surgical instruments
• Gamma knifes

Question 18

What are gamma knifes?

Answer 18

These are beams of gamma rays used to kill cancerous tumours deep inside the body.

Question 19

instruments used to detect radiation

Answer 19

Geiger-Müller tube and Geiger-Müller counter

Question 20

What is half life?

Answer 20

Half life is the average time taken for half of the radioisotopes in a sample to decay. It is a measurement of time

Question 21

Dangers of ionising radiation

Answer 21

• Radiation can cause mutations in living organisms
• Radiation can damdge cells and tissue
• Disposal of radioactive waste