Radioactive decay Flashcards
1
Q
Gamma radiation can be significantly reduced by…
A
lead
2
Q
What form of radiation is emitted by nuclei with too many neutrons?
A
Beta
3
Q
Gamma radiation is…
A
an electromagnetic wave
4
Q
Which form of radiation has the highest ionising power?
A
Alpha
5
Q
What causes an atom’s nucleus to become unstable?
A
Too many or too few neutrons in the nucleus
6
Q
What is the activity of a source that emits 1,200 particles per minute?
A
20Bq
7
Q
Uranium 238 emits an alpha particle to become what nucleus?
A
Thorium-234
alpha decay reduces the mass number by 4
8
Q
An alpha particle is…
A
a helium nucleus
9
Q
Which type of radiation can reach the furthest?
A
Gamma
10
Q
What fraction of a radioisotope has decayed after two half-lives? - Higher
A
Three quarters of a radioisotope has decayed after two half-lives
