Topic 6 - Radioactivity - Dangers Of Ionising Radiation Flashcards
What is a characteristic of a source with a short half-life?
It presents less of a risk as it does not remain strongly radioactive for long
Initially very radioactive but quickly decreases in radioactivity
What is the implication of a short half-life in ionising radiation?
It presents less of a long-term risk
The radioactivity decreases rapidly
What type of half-life does Americium have?
432 years
This long half-life allows it to remain weakly radioactive for a long time
Why is Americium suitable for use in smoke alarms?
It will not need to be replenished and its weak activity means it won’t be harmful to anyone
Its long half-life contributes to its suitability
Fill in the blank: A source with a long half-life remains _______ for a long period of time.
weakly radioactive
This characteristic affects its long-term safety
