Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSE- Physics > Topic 6- Radioactivity > Flashcards

Topic 6- Radioactivity Flashcards

1
Q

How much larger is the nucleus radius than the nucleus?

A

10,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Where is the mass of an atom

A

In its nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the size of an atom vs a molecule

A
  • 10^-10m
    -10^-9 m
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the atomic number?

A

Mass of protons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the nucleon number?

A

Mass of neutrons and protons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is an isotope?

A
  • Same electrons and protons
  • Different number of neutrons
  • Different mass
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the relative mass and charge of an electron?

A

1/2000 (1/1836)
negative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the relative mass and charge of a neautron?

A
  • 1
  • neutral
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the relative mass and charge of a proton?

A

-1
-positive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the relative mass and charge of a positron?

A

-1/2000 (1/1836)
- Positive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What happens to electron orbit when they absorb emissions of electromagnetic radiation?

A
  • Gains energy and becomes excited
  • Moves up an energy level, to the next ring (to an unoccupied space)
  • Looses energy (form of radiation) and moves back to its ground state
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Alpha decay: what happens

A
  • Random unstable nucleus DECAYS/splits into a new less unstable nucleus
  • and a Helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Beta minus decay: what happens

A
  • Unstable isotopes with too many neutrons
  • Neutron decays into a proton and electron
  • High speed electron cuasing radiation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Beta plus decay: what happens

A
  • Unstable isotopes with too many neutrons
  • Positron decays into a neutron and electron
  • High speed positron causing radiation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Gamma radiation: what happens

A

-After alpha or beta decay
- New nucleus is still unstable
- Emits energy as gamma waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What type of radiation is alpha, beta and gamma?

A
  • ionising radiation
17
Q

What stops alpha radiation?

A
  • Thin sheet of paper
18
Q

What stops beta radiation?

A
  • Aluminium (5mm)
  • Lead (2-3mm)
19
Q

What stops gamma radiation?

A
  • Thick lead
  • Concreate (1m)
20
Q

highest to lowest ionising radiation order?

A
  • Alpha
  • Beta
  • Gamma
21
Q

What are the natural sources of background radiation?

A
  • Randon gas- decay of uranium and thorium (igneous rocks)
  • Internal radiation- Absorb radioactive material (carbon 14 instead of carbon 12)
22
Q

Artificial sources of background radiation

A
  • Leakages/ accidents of electricity generators that use nuclear energy
  • Fall-out with weapons testing
  • Accounts for very small percentage
23
Q

What is background radiation?

A

Low level radiation present everywhere

24
Q

What is used to measuring/detecting radiation?

A
  • Photographic film
  • Geiger tube and counter
25
Q

How does the photographic film detect radiation?

A
  • film that changes colour due to radiation
  • Mediums placed in front of film to determine the penetrating strength of the (therefore which) radiation
  • Open window, paper, lead, concrete
26
Q

How does the GM detect radiation?

A

-ionising radiation ionises the gas in the tube
-Free electrons are attracted to the anode
- Their flow creates a circuit
-This produces a clicking sound

27
Q

How to work out the activity rate of a radioactive substance?

A
  • Count/ time
28
Q

What is half life?

A
  • The time taken for half the radioactive matter
  • Or the Activity rate
  • to decrease by half
29
Q

How do we measure half life using a graph?

A
  • Find the half life
  • Fine the time it took
  • Repeat with the quatre life
  • Find the difference between the two
30
Q

What is the unit of activity rate of an isotope?

A
  • A becquerel
31
Q

What was the plum pudding model

A
  • Plum pudding, electrons and protons incased in a nucleus
32
Q

What was the alpha particle scattering experiment and what where the results?

A
  • Alpha particle shot at thin gold foil
  • Most went through
  • Some were deflected
  • Very few where deflected backwards
33
Q

What did the fact that most alpha particles went straight through the gold foil prove?

A
  • Most of an atom is just empty space
    (positive helium nucleus hit nothing most of the time)
34
Q

What did the fact that some alpha particles deflected slightly/ backwards through the gold foil prove?

A
  • Nucleus is positive
  • The positive helium nucleus was repelled by the larger positive nucleus and changed direction
35
Q

Why was gold foil used in the particle scattering experiment?

A
  • Highly positive
  • Electrons in the gold weren’t attracted to the alpha particle
36
Q

What was Bohr’s atomic model?

A
  • Quantised electron shells
  • Electrons orbit a positive (much larger) nucleus
37
Q

How is alpha radiation deflected in a magnet?

A
  • Positive movement causes a current
    (FBI) force pushes it upwards or downwards
  • Slightly changes movements
38
Q

How is beta minus radiation deflected in a magnet?

A
  • Deflected more as it has a smaller mass
  • Negative movement causes current in the opposite direction (FBI)
39
Q

How is beta plus radiation deflected in a magnet?

A
  • Deflected more as it has a smaller mass
  • Positive movement causes current in the direction (FBI)

GCSE- Physics (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions