Atomic Structure

Question 1

Proton

Answer 1

Located in the nucleus, has a charge of +1

Question 2

Neutron

Answer 2

Located in the nucleus, has a charge of 0

Question 3

Electron

Answer 3

Located outside the nucleus, has a charge of -1

Question 4

Alpha

Answer 4

Made of 2 protons & 2 neutrons, penetrates 2cm air paper, has high ionising

Is used in smoke detectors, cancer treatment & powering pacemakers in the medical industry

Question 5

Beta

Answer 5

Made of fast electrons, penetrates tin foil, has middle ionising

Is used for monitoring the thickness of materials, medical imaging & paper milling

Question 6

Gamma

Answer 6

Made of an electric magnetic wave, penetrates led, has low ionising

Is used for radiotherapy, sterilisation & nuclear power

Question 7

Half-Life

Answer 7

The time it takes for the mass or quantity of a radioactive substance to decay by half

Question 8

Nuclear Fission

Answer 8

The splitting of heavy nucelli

Advantages: Much more energy produced, no CO2

Disadvantages: Incredibly expensive, produces nuclear waste with very long half lives

Question 9

Nuclear Fusion

Answer 9

The combination of light elements

Advantages: 4x energy per kg compared to fission, no CO2, cannot melt down

Disadvantages: Temperatures are hard to reach, hard to contain plasma, expensive