Radioactivity And Particles

Question 1

What are atoms made from

Answer 1

Protons, neutrons and electrons

Question 2

What is bigger mass number or atomic number

Answer 2

Mass number

Question 3

What is the atomic number

Answer 3

The number of protons in the nucleus

Question 4

What is the mass number

Answer 4

The number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus (nucleons)

Question 5

What is an isotope

Answer 5

An isotope is an atom of the same element that has the same atomic number but different mass number

Question 6

Wha are the 3 types of ionising radiation

Answer 6

Alpha, Beta and Gamma

Question 7

What is alpha decay

Answer 7

A helium nucleus. 4 mass number, 2 atomic number

Question 8

What is beta decay

Answer 8

A fast moving electron

Question 9

What is gamma radiation

Answer 9

An electromagnetic wave

Question 10

What does high ionising power mean

Answer 10

Low penetrating power

Question 11

What can alpha radiation penetrate

Answer 11

Nothing, only a small distance in the air

Question 12

What can beta radiation penetrate

Answer 12

Paper but cannot get through aluminium

Question 13

What can gamma radiation penetrate

Answer 13

Aluminium but only small amounts can get through lead because it is a wave a little bit ca

Question 14

What does a Geiger-Muller tube do

Answer 14

Measures the count rate of a radioactive source

Question 15

Alpha decay

Answer 15

2 protons + 2 neutrons are lost
Mass number decreases by 4
Atomic number decreases by 2

Question 16

Beta decay

Answer 16

1 neutron is converted into a proton and an electron. (Electron is ejected)
Atomic number is increased by one as a proton is gained
Mass number remains the same

Question 17

Gamma decay

Answer 17

Mass number is unchanged
Atomic number is unchanged

Question 18

Alpha equation
A = mass number
Z = atomic number

Answer 18

aXz———a-4Xz-2 + 4He2

Question 19

Beta equation

Answer 19

aXz———aXz+1 + 0e-1

Question 20

Gamma equation

Answer 20

aXz———aXz + 0gamma0

Question 21

Why is count rate never 0

Answer 21

Because of background radiation

Question 22

What is half life

Answer 22

The time taken for the radioactivity of a radioactive source to decrease by half its original value

Question 23

What are the uses of radioactivity

Answer 23

Medical tracer - radioactive source put in body and then traced

Pipe tracers - radioactive source put through a pipe and then detected where there is higher numbers meaning there is a leak

Radiotherapy - High dose of radiation kills cancerous cells

Sterilisation - medical equipment is irradiated which kills all living matter

Question 24

What is irradiation

Answer 24

When a substance is exposed to a radioactive source

Question 25

What is contamination

Answer 25

What a radioactive source is deposited in or on an object such a skin

Question 26

How are radioactive sources disposed of

Answer 26

They are put in metal canisters and put under concrete

Question 27

How are highly penetrating radioactive sources disposed of

Answer 27

They are out in metal canisters and but under the sea until they are suitable to be taken up then they are put in concrete