radioactivity

Question 1

Atomic mass:

Answer 1

how many protons and neutrons there are in an atom’s nucleus (top)

Question 2

Atomic number:

Answer 2

how many protons OR electrons there are in an atom (bottom)

Question 3

Isotope:

Answer 3

A version of an elements with a varying amount of neutrons in its nucleus whilst having the usual amount of protons and electrons, resulting in variations in an atom’s atomic mass.

Question 4

Ionisation:

Answer 4

When radiation knocks out an outer electron from an atom, causing it to gain a positive charge.

Question 5

Excitation:

Answer 5

When radiation isn’t strong enough to fully knock out an atom’s outer electron and instead displaces it to a higher energy level, making the atom be in an unstable ‘excited state’. the electron eventually drops back dow to its original energy level whilst emitting the radiation out as electromagnetic energy (light)

Question 6

Radiation/radioactivity:

Answer 6

The excess mass or energy an excited atom emits out to become stable again.

Question 7

Radioactive decay:

Answer 7

the process where a radioisotope (radioactive nucleus) becomes stable by emitting excess mass/energy.

Question 8

Give and explain two characteristics of radioactive decay:

Answer 8

Random- we cannot predict which nuclei will decay next or when.
Spontaneous- no external changes applied to it will effect its radioactivity

Question 9

How do you calculate the radioactivity of a material?

Answer 9

measured in Bq

divide number of nuclei that decay by the time it takes

Question 10

What are the 4 types of radiation?

Answer 10

Gamma (energy)
Alpha (mass)
Beta (mass)
Neutron (mass)

Question 11

Describe gamma radiation: (relative mass, charge, physical description, how it’s produced, how it changes the atom)

Answer 11

Gamma radiation (y) may occur after alpha or beta radiation when there is excess energy to be emitted. it is emitted via short wavelength and high frequency waves, this doesn’t change the atom. it has a relative mass of 0 and has a relative charge of 0.

Question 12

Describe alpha radiation: (relative mass, charge, physical description, how it’s produced)

Answer 12

Alpha radiation (a) is a particle consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons that are emitted from a radioactive atom to become stable, resulting in it becoming a new element and isotope. it has a relative mass of 4 and a relative charge of +2.

Question 13

Describe beta radiation: (relative mass, charge, physical description, how it’s produced)

Answer 13

Beta radiation (b) is when a neutron turns into a proton (which stays in the nucleus, changing the atom’s atomic number thus changing its element) and an electron which is released giving the nucleus a positive charge. the atom’s relative mass remains unchanged. the relative mass of the beta particle is 0 but it has a charge of -1.

Question 14

Describe neutron radiation: (relative mass, charge, physical description, how it’s produced)

Answer 14

Neutron radiation (n) is when a radioactive atom become even more unstable and emits a high speed neutron. it therefore makes another isotope, and have no charge but a relative mass of 1.

Question 15

Describe the difference between alpha, beta and gamma radiation ionising power and penetrating power:

Answer 15

Alpha particles have a low penetrating power but high ionising power.
Beta particles have a higher penetrating power and a lower ionising power.
Gamma rays have a high penetrating power but a low ionising power.