Week 1: Radioactivity, Nuclear physics, Decay equations

Question 1

Types of ionising radiation

Answer 1

• Electromagnetic radiations ie x-rays and gamma rays
• Particulate radiations ie e-, protons, alpha particles, neutrons
• Essentially all charged particules can cause ionising radiation

Question 2

Isotope

Answer 2

Where an atom possesses a varying number of neutrons from the original

Question 3

Radioactivity

Answer 3

Defined as the property possessed by unstable elements of spontaneously emitting energetic particles by the decay of their atomic nuclei to become stable

Question 4

The 3 types of ionising radiation

Answer 4

• Alpha
• Beta
• Gamma

Question 5

Alpha particle characteristics

Answer 5

• Large
• Slow but high collision rate
• Highly ionising
• Short travel distance
• Low penetration, with 1 particle can ionise 10,000 atoms

Question 6

Beta particle characteristics

Answer 6

• Small
• Has a large range of energies
• Fast but lower collision rate
• Generally lower ionisation
• Can travel longer distances
• More useful for diagnostics

Question 7

Gamma wave characteristics

Answer 7

• Uncharged + have no mass
• Least ionising, but have high energy
• Poor ionising but are penetrating + least dangerous to life