2.7 TYPES OF RADIATION Flashcards
WHAT IS AN ATOM MADE UP OF?
Protons, neutrons and electrons
WHAT IS AN ISOTOPE?
Isotopes of the same element have equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
WHAT CAUSES AN UNSTABLE ATOM?
If the number of neutrons is significantly higher then the number of protons
WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY?
- Alpha
- Beta
- Gamma
WHEN DO ALPHA EMISSIONS OCCUR?
When a nucleus decays by emitting a helium nucleus, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
WHEN DO GAMMA EMISSIONS OCCUR?
When a nucleus releases some energy in the form of an electromagnetic wave
WHEN DOES BETA RADIATION OCCUR?
When a neutron, in an unstable atom, changes to a proton and emits a high-energy electron
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH RISKS OF RADIATION?
Radiation can damage skin cells and cause cancer
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY?
It is random and spontaneous
WHAT MEASURES RADIOACTIVE DECAY?
Geiger muller counter
WHAT NATURAL SOURCES EMIT BACKGROUND RADIATION?
- Radon gas
- Buildings
- Rocks
- Food
- Cosmic radiation
WHAT ARTIFICIAL SOURCES EMIT BACKGROUND RADIATION?
- Medical
- Nuclear power
- Nuclear weapons
ORDER THE THREE TYPES OF RADIATION FROM MOST IONISING TO LEAST
Alpha, beta, gamma
ORDER THE THREE TYPES OF RADIATION FROM MOST PENETRATING TO LEAST
Gamma, beta, alpha
WHAT MATERIAL STOPS THE PENETRATION OF ALPHA?
Paper or a few centimetres of air
