Topic 6 : Radioactivity Flashcards
Protons
positively charged constituent of the nucleus.
Radioactive Contamination.
Radioactive Contamination: The unwanted presence of radioactive atoms on other materials. It is hazardous due to the decay of the contaminating atoms.
Radioactive decay
Radioactive Decay: The random process involving unstable nuclei emitting radiation to become more stable.
Positive ions
Positive lons: Atoms that have lost electrons and so have a resultant positive charge.
Nucleus
Nucleus: The positively charged centre of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.
Neutrons
Neutrons: A neutrally charged constituent of the nucleus.
Negative ions
Negative lons: Atoms that gained electrons and so have a resultant negative charge.
Mass number s
Mass Number: The number of protons and neutrons in an atom.
Alpha partical
Alpha Particle: A positively charged particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
Atomic number
Atomic Number: The number of protons found in an atom of a specific element.
Each element has a different atomic number.
Background radiation
Background Radiation: Radiation that is found in small quantities all around us and originates from natural sources such as rocks and cosmic rays, as well as from man-made sources such as nuclear weapons testing and accidents.
Beta particle
Beta Particle: A high speed electron that a nucleus emits when a neutron converts into a proton.
Beta particle
Beta Particle: A high speed electron that a nucleus emits when a neutron converts into a proton.
Alpha can be stopped by
paper charge of +2
2 proton 2 neutrons
strongmynionsing
-2
Beta minus can be stopped by
aluminum
weak ionizing
charge -1
bottom increase by 1
