Radioactivity Flashcards
Describe the role of the moderator in a nuclear reactor
Slows down neutrons
enables fission to occur
Describe the role of the control rods in a nuclear reactor
They absorb neutrons
And control the rate of fission
Radioactive decay is
Random
What two ways ionising radiation can be detected
Photographic film and Geiger-Müller detector
Explain how the process of nuclear power with uranium leads to a chain reaction
Three neutrons are emitted which can collide with other uranium nuclei
This will start new fission processes which in turn will lead to more and so on
What is Bq an abbreviation of
Becquerel
What is the control rod made of?
Boron
What is the fuel rod made of
Uranium
What is the moderator made of
Graphite
What is the outer shield made of
Concrete
Describe the process of nuclear fission
Slow moving neutrons collide with uranium nucleus and get absorbed by it.
This splits up the nucleus and forms daughter nuclei
When uranium decays it emits neutrons creating a chain reaction.
When this happens energy is released
Why does the alpha particle pass straight through the gold atom
Most of the atom is empty space
Considering the charge of each of the particles involved in Rutherford’s alpha particle scattering experiment and nuclear fission
explain why particles are deviated in rutherfords experiment but can be absorbed in nuclear fission
Nuclei is positive and the alpha particle is also positive
Like charges repel
On the other hand the neutron is neutral hence it is not repelled
