8.3 Radiation Flashcards
Based on the effect that radiation has on matter it is classed as either…
ionising or non-
ionising radiation
What type of radiation (ionising, or non-ionising) is being described below (some words have been removed from the text).
When _________ radiation passes through matter, including human tissue, it leaves
energy behind. This causes an electrical imbalance at the atomic level creating ions.
_________ radiation may occur naturally from the deterioration of radioactive substances
such as uranium or may be man-made.
Ionising
The four main types of ionising radiation are:
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma rays
X rays
What type of ionising radiation is being described below:
They are potentially the most damaging type of ionising radiation but are fairly easy to stop with barriers. They will not penetrate human skin and can only travel a few
centimetres in air.
Used in smoke detectors and as static eliminators.
Alpha particles
What type of ionising radiation is being described below (some words have been removed):
Can travel further than ________ and can penetrate human skin
but are not as harmful as ________.
Used in industrial thickness gauges and as medical radioactive
tracers.
Beta particles
What type of ionising radiation is being described below (some words have been removed):
________ are very short wavelength (high frequency) electromagnetic radiation.
________ radiation is similar in many ways to other types of electromagnetic radiation
such as visible light and ________, which can travel long distances.
________ such as Cobalt 60 have a range of medical and industrial uses including steel thickness testing, medical sterilisation, food pasteurisation and cancer
treatment
Gamma rays
What type of ionising radiation is being described below (some words have been removed):
________ are similar to ________ but are generally man made and lower in energy.
________ are used universally in medicine and industry for examinations,
inspections and process controls.
X rays
The energy that radiation deposits in body tissue may have no effect or can cause cell
damage or cell death.
The extent of the damage depends upon:
the total amount of energy absorbed;
the time period;
the dose rate of the exposure; and
the particular organs exposed.
The three main factors that can be
controlled to reduce radiation exposure
are:
Shielding;
Time; and
Distance.
What type of ionising radiation is being described below:
Stopped by a sheet of paper
ALPHA Particles
What type of ionising radiation is being described below:
Stopped by layer of clothing or by a few millimeters of a substance such as aluminium
BETA Particles
What type of ionising radiation is being described below:
Stopped by several feet of concrete or a few inches of lead
GAMMA Rays and
X-Rays
What is being described below:
radioactive gas which comes from uranium and occurs naturally in many rocks and soils. Can seep out of the ground and build up in houses and indoor workplaces.
Radon
How can new buildings be protected from radon during construction?
installing a ‘radon proof barrier/ membrane’ within the floor structure
How can existing buildings be protected from radon construction?
Increasing the air pressure inside the building
