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Physics > radioactivity > Flashcards

radioactivity Flashcards

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1
Q

how should the scientist correct the count rate of the radioactive isotope for background radiation

A

subtract the background count rate

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2
Q

what is an alpha particle

A

a helium nucleus

two protons and two neutrons

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3
Q

which two types of radiation can be affected by a magnetic field

A

alpha
beta

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4
Q

what is a beta particle

A

fast moving electrons produced when a neutron changes into a proton and an electron

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5
Q

what is a gamma ray

A

an electromagnetic wave

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6
Q

what is the charge of a gamma ray

A

0

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7
Q

what is the charge of a beta particle

A

-1

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8
Q

what is the penetrating power of an alpha particle

A

stopped by paper

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9
Q

what is the penetration power of a beta particle

A

stopped by a few mm aluminium

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10
Q

what is the penetration power of a gamma ray

A

gets stopped by a lot of cm of lead or many meters of concrete

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11
Q

what happens to a particle when it is ionised

A

its number of electrons changes which gives it a charge

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12
Q

what are the ionising powers of the three different types of radiation

A

alpha - most ionising
beta
gamma - least ionising

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13
Q

what happens to the mass and proton numbers during gamma decay

A

they remain the same, the process just makes the nucleus less energetic

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14
Q

what is a sievert

A

the amount of radiation received by a person (the dose)

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15
Q

IN WHAT TWO WAYS CAN RADIATION BE MEASURED AND DETECTED

A

using a photographic film or a geiger-muller tube

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16
Q

how does photographic film show radiation

A

it becomes darker as it absorbs radiation

the darker it is, the more radiation it has absorbed

17
Q

how is photographic film used in real life situations

A

people who work with radiation such as radiographers wear film badges which are checked regularly to monitor levels of radiation absorbed

to get an accurate measure of the dose received, the badge contains different materials that the radiation must penetrate in order to reach the film

18
Q

how does a geiger-muller tube measure radiation

A

each time it absorbs radiation, it transmits an electrical pulse to a counting machine which makes a clicking sound or displays the COUNT RATE

19
Q

how does distance from a radioactive object affect the amount of radiation present

A

it decreases with distance because the waves spread out

20
Q

natural sources of radiation

A
  • rocks and building materials
  • cosmic rays from space
  • foods
21
Q

man made sources of radiation

A
  • medical sources
  • nuclear waste/accidents
22
Q

what percentage of activity would a radioactive source be at after two half lives

A

25% (halving twice 100 - 50 then 50 - 25)

Physics (13 decks)

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