atomic and nuclear

Question 1

what makes up an atom

Answer 1

protons, neutrons and electrons

Question 2

what is in the nuclease

Answer 2

protons and neutrons

Question 3

what is found in the outer shell

Answer 3

electrons

Question 4

relative mass of a proton

Answer 4

1

Question 5

relative mass of a neutron

Answer 5

1

Question 6

relative mass of an electron

Answer 6

1/1840

Question 7

relative charge of a proton

Answer 7

+1

Question 8

relative charge of a neutron

Answer 8

0

Question 9

relative charge of an electron

Answer 9

-1

Question 10

what is the mass number

Answer 10

this gives the number of proton + neutrons in nucleus

Question 11

what is the atomic number

Answer 11

this gives the number of proton in the nucleus

Question 12

what is an isotope

Answer 12

isotope of an element has the same atomic number but different mass number.

Question 13

what is radioactive

Answer 13

a material is said to be radioactive if its nucleus becomes unstable and disintegrates randomly and spontaneously emitting alpha, beta and gamma radiation.

Question 14

what are the three types of radiation emitted from an unstable nuclei

Answer 14

alpha radiation (α)
beta radiation (β)
gamma radiation (γ)

Question 15

where in an atom is radioactivity released from

Answer 15

all radioactive emissions are emitted from the nucleus of an atom

Question 16

what is an alpha particles (α)

Answer 16

a helium nucleus - contains 2 protons, 2 neutrons
positive charge of +2 (from protons)
heavy - mass of 4u (protons and neutron both have mass 1u)
big (compared to β particle)

Question 17

what is an beta particles (β)

Answer 17

a fast moving electron
negative charge of -1
negligible mass (1/1840 u)
very small (compared to α particle)

Question 18

what is gamma particles (γ)

Answer 18

electromagnetic wave
no charge
no mass

Question 19

how far can a alpha particles travel

Answer 19

alpha particles are stopped by a this sheet or skin

Question 20

how far can a beta particles travel

Answer 20

beta particles are stopped by a shin sheet of aluminium

Question 21

how far can a gamma ray travel

Answer 21

gamma ray are stopped by a block of lead

Question 22

what is background radiation

Answer 22

the natural radiation that we are exposed to every day

Question 23

equation for calculating corrected count rate

Answer 23

corrected count rate = measured count rate - background count rate

Question 24

what are some natural sources of background radiation

Answer 24

comic rays from space
foods like banana and oysters
radon gas
natural radioactive material in rocks and bricks

Question 25

what are some human behaviour which adds to background radiation

Answer 25

medical sources (x-rays) flights radioactive waste from nuclear power stations radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons testing

Question 26

what is ionisation

Answer 26

ionisation occurs when an atom gains or loses an electron leaving the atom changed

Question 27

is alpha radiation dangerous

Answer 27

alpha radiation is not as dangerous if the radioactive source, is outside the body, because it cannot pass through the skin and is unlikely to reach cells inside the body; alpha radiation will damage cells if the radioactive source has been breathed in or swallowed;

Question 28

is beta radiation dangerous

Answer 28

beta and gamma radiation can penetrate the skin and cause damage to cells

Question 29

is gamma radiation dangerous

Answer 29

beta and gamma radiation can penetrate the skin and cause damage to cells

Question 30

how to protect yourself when handling radioactive sources

Answer 30

* wearing protective clothing * keeping the source as far away as possible by using tongs * being exposed to the source for as short a time as possible * keeping radioactive materials in lead-lined containers

Question 31

what can radiation cause to your health over repeated radiation

Answer 31

it can cause cancer

Question 32

what is half life

Answer 32

the time it takes for half of radioactive sample to decay

Question 33

what happens in a nuclear fission process

Answer 33

a large heavy nucleus absorbs a neutron making it unstable and then it disintegrates and splits onto two smaller, lighter nuclei and releases two or three neutron that go on to cause more fission reaction then energy is released.

Question 34

what is a chain reaction

Answer 34

a chain reaction occurs when a single fission reaction produces neutrons which go on to cause more fission reactions, leading to a self-propagating series of reactions.

Question 35

what is decommissioning

Answer 35

decommissioning occurs when a nuclear power station comes to the and of its useful life all radiation waste and materials are removed and the site is returned to its pre-nuclear state.

Question 36

describe nuclear fusion in simple terms

Answer 36

2 small, light nuclei (typically isotopes of hydrogen) combine/join to form a larger, more stable nuclei (such as helium) energy is released in this process.

Question 37

how much more times of energy is released when fusing nuclei compared to nuclear fission per kg

Answer 37

4 times

Question 38

how much more times of energy is released when fusing nuclei compared to chemicals such as oil, coal or gas per kg

Answer 38

4 million times