Types of Radiation

Question 1

What are the 3 types of radiation?

Answer 1

α - Alpha
β - Beta
γ - Gamma

Question 2

What is the properties of Alpha radiation (α)

Mass, charge, penetrating power, Ionising power

Answer 2

(Helium Nuclei)
Mass number - 4
Atomic Number/ charge - 2
Penetrating power- Stopped by paper
Ionising power- High
*Travel speed - 10% speed of light

Question 3

What is the properties of Beta radiation (β)

Mass, charge, penetrating power, Ionising power

Answer 3

(Electron)
Mass number - 0
Atomic Number/ charge =  -1
Penetrating power- Stopped by few mm of Aluminium 
Ionising power- Medium
*Travel speed- 50% speed of light

Question 4

What is the properties of Gamma radiation (γ)

Mass, charge, penetrating power, Ionising power

Answer 4

Mass number - None
Atomic Number/ charge - None
Penetrating power- Reduced by several cm of Lead (Pb)
Ionising power- Low
*Travel speed- 100% Speed of light

Question 5

What causes an atom to give off radiation?

Answer 5

There is an imbalance in protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom which makes it unstable. This means it can break apart emitting ionising radiation.

Question 6

What is an isotope?

Answer 6

A different form of a single element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons

Question 7

What is the background radiation?

Answer 7

It is the radiation that comes naturally from the environment or artificial sources

Question 8

What are the sources of background radiation?

Answer 8

• Rocks and soil 50%
• Gamma rays from the ground and certain buildings 13.5%
• Medical 14%
• Food and drink 10%
• Cosmic Rays 12%

Question 9

How are radioactivity measurements improves given the fact they are a random process?

Answer 9

• The results are repeated and a mean average is taken.
• The background radiation is taken into account.
• Results are usually taken over a long period of time.

Question 10

Where is nuclear waste usually stored?

Answer 10

High-level waste is submerged in water that is encased with lots of concrete and lead shielding until it is cooled down enough.
For long term, it is encased in blocks of glass (called ‘vitrification’) and buried deep underground.
Lower level waste is mixed with concrete and poured into steel drums where it is also stored underground.

Question 11

What is the name of the instrument that detects ionising radiation

Answer 11

A Geiger counter or Geiger–Müller counter

Question 12

What is the name of encasing high level waste in blocks of glass?

Answer 12

Vitrification