THE NUCLEUS + HALF LIFE

Question 1

What is the mass number?

Answer 1

The number of protons and neutrons

Question 2

What is the atomic number?

Answer 2

The number of protons/ electrons

Question 3

What is the charge of the electron?

Answer 3

-1

Question 4

What is the charge of the proton?

Answer 4

+1

Question 5

What is the charge of the neutron?

Answer 5

0

Question 6

What is the relative mass of the electron?

Answer 6

negligible

Question 7

What is the mass of the proton?

Answer 7

1

Question 8

What is the mass of the neutron?

Answer 8

1

Question 9

What is an ion?

Answer 9

A charged atom due to loss or gain of electrons.

Question 10

What is an isotope?

Answer 10

An atom of the same element with a different number of neutrons but the same number of protons and electrons.

Question 11

What is decay?

Answer 11

When the nucleus changes composition.

Question 12

Why do isotopes decay?

Answer 12

In order to become stable.

Question 13

What is half life?

Answer 13

The average time for half the unstable nucleus to decay.

Question 14

What is the activity?

Answer 14

A measure of the number of decays per second (Bq)

Question 15

Is decay a random process?

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

What is the cause of background radiation?

Answer 16

The natural decay of unstable nuclei in our surroundings.

Question 17

Name five sources of background radiation.

Answer 17

1. Radon gas from ground
2. Buildings and the ground
3. Food and drink
4. Cosmetic Rays
5. Artificial sources

Question 18

Name 3 artificial sources of background radiation.

Answer 18

Medical, nuclear power, smoke detectors