Radioactivity Flashcards
Why can a isotope be radioactive?
The isotope have a unstable nucleus so it can emit radiation
What is radioactivity?
The nucleus emitting ionising EM radiation or ionising particles from the nucleus.
What is meant by activity?
The rate a source if unstable nuclei decay
What is nuclei decay measured in ?
Bacqueral (Bq)
What is used to measure the activity of a radioactive source?
A Geiger muller tube
What is the count rate on a Geiger muller tube?
The number of decays recorded each second by a dector.
Why are count rate and activity not the same
Due to background radiation
What are the 4 types of radiation a unstable nucleus can give out?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Neutron
What is in alpha particle?
It has 2 protons and 2 neutrons so a helium atom.
Has a relative mass of 4 but a relative charge of 2.
What is a beta particle?
It is a electon made in the nucleus when a neutron changes to a proton and electon. Relative mass of 0 and a relative formula charge of -1
What is a gamma particle?
Gamma rays,electromagnetic radiation. No mass or charge. Just high energy and high frequency.
Why does gamma have no mass or charge?
It has no protons, no neutrons and no electrons.
