Radioactivity Flashcards
What is background radiation
radiation that is naturally occurring
Example of non-ionizing
radio waves, microwaves, radar
What are the two categories of radiation
Ionizing and non-ionizing
What are alpha particles
are helium nuclei (2 protons and 2 neutrons)
Types of ionizing radiation
-Alpha particles
-Beta particles
-Gamma and x-ray
-Neutron particles.
What are beta particles
are high speed electrons or positron
what are gamma and x-rays
radiation are high energy photons
What are neutron particles
they are free neutrons
What can alpha not penetrate
Alpha cannot penetrate the dead layer of skin or a piece of paper
What is radiation
This is energy that is transported in the form of particles or waves
what is radioactive material
this is material that contains atoms that emit radiation spontaneously
What makes an atom stable
A stable atom has the same number of protons and the same number of neutrons
When an unstable atom is trying to become stable it releases energy what is this energy called
Ionizing radiation
What are ions
ions are electrically charged particles which may cause changes in living cells of plants, animals, and people
What is bigger alpha or beta particles
alpha particles are bigger
Since alpha particles are bigger what does that make them?
Makes them slower and less penetrating
What are the two types of x-rays
characteristic x-rays and bremsstrahlung x-ray
What ionizing radiation is the most penetrating
Gamma and x-rays
What is a characteristic x-ray
When the electron is falling to a lower orbit to allow for stabilization, that falling electron creates a a characteristic x-ray
What is a bremsstrahlung x-ray
when an energetic electron loses energy it emits the energy that forms an x-ray photon
What do beta particles create in x-rays
they create x-rays that move through heavy metals and excite orbital electrons
What is Active radioactive material measured in
Curies
What is 1 curie equal to in DPS
3.7X10^10
0.001 Ci = ___ mCi= ___uCi
1.0 and 1,000
What does disintegration per minute refer to?
To the radiation events given off by a radioactive material
What does counts per minute refer to?
It refers to the rate of radiation events registered by the measuring instrument
Which is larger Disintegration per minute or counts per minute?
DPM is larger
what does T1/2 refer too
The amount of time the substance will remain radioactive
What is half-life
The time it takes for half of the original parent isotope to decay into the daughter isotope
A radioactive atom will continue to decay to a different kind of atom until when
until it is eventually stable non radioactive isotope
What does exposure mean
the amount of ionizing radiation a person is exposed to
What does roentgens (R) represent
the metric unit in which the amount of exposure one is exposed too can be measured as R/milli
What is primary radiation
the direct beam or source and scatter radiation that occurs when that radiation interacts with any substance such as shielding material
What does RAD stand for
radiation absorbed exposer
What does REM stand for
roentgen equivalent man, this is the biological does equivalent
How do you find REM
RAD X Quality factor or Relative biological effectiveness
What is RBE
the factor by which the absorbed dose is to be multiplied to obtain a quantity that expresses on a common scale for all ionizing radiation, the biological damage to expose person
What is acute bio-effects
manifests in minutes or days
What are latent bio-effects
bio effects that manifests into years
What is the annual limit of whole body rem one is allowed to absorb and mrem
5 and 5,000
Why do we follow the theme alara
because it is assumed that even the small doses have some change of causing cancer
What is alara
as low as reasonably achievable
What are some cells that are most sensitive to radiation
-Stem cells
-Bone marrow
-Hair follicles
-Cancer cells
-Embryos
-Neonates
What does the inverse square law state
every time you double your distance you drop your exposer down to 1/4
What equals alara
minimizing exposer by combining the use of least time and greatest distance and good shielding
What is ALARA philosphy
assumes that radiation exposure of any amount is potential hazard
What do you do before doing any type of radiation work?
First check to see if the batteries are good in the survey meters then test the designated check source is a reading appropriately
What are contamination surveys always measured in?
Counts per minute and you always start on the smallest scale of X0.1
How often do you need to preform a radiation wipe leak test and survey
DAILEY after every use
When is a area considered contaminated
when the results are over 200 cpm
How often does waste drums need to be survyed
must be surveyed at least weekly
