Radioactivity Flashcards
Neutron
Found in the nucleus, 1 mass, no charge
Proton
Found in the nucleus, 1 mass, positive charge
Electron
Found in the shell, negligible mass, negative charge
Atomic number
The number of protons in an atom
Mass number
The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Isotope
Different atoms of the same element, with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. Also have the same chemical properties
What are alpha and betas particles and gamma rays?
Ionising radiations emitted from unstable nuclei in a random process
Alpha (Composition, Charge, Mass, Speed, Penetrability, Ionisation, Stopped by, Deflected by)
- 2 protons + 2 neutrons
- +2
- 4
- Slow
- Low penetrating power
- High ionising radiation
- Stopped by paper
- Charged so it’s deflected by a magnetic field
Beta (Composition, Charge, Mass, Speed, Penetrability, Ionisation, Stopped by, Deflected by)
- The same as an electron
- -1
- 1/2000 of a proton
- Fast
- Medium penetrating power
- Moderate ionising radiation
- Stopped by aluminium
- Charged so it’s deflected by a magnetic field
Gamma (Composition, Charge, Mass, Speed, Penetrability, Ionisation, Stopped by, Deflected by)
- An EM wave
- No charge
- No mass
- Speed of light
- High penetrating power
- Very low ionising radiation
- Stopped by lead/concrete
- Not deflected by a magnetic field
What can detect ionising radiation?
Photographic film or a Geiger-Muller detector
What is background radiation?
Naturally occurring radiation around us
What are some sources of background radiation?
Rocks/soil, food, cosmic rays, medical treatments and more
What happens to the activity of a sample over time?
It decreases
How is the activity of a sample measured?
In Becquerels
