Atoms and Nuclear radiation Flashcards
Why do unstable nuclei give out radiation
Unstable nuclei undergo decay to become more stable
As they release radiation their stability increases
What is the process called in which an unstable nucleus gives out radiation to
become more stable
Radioactive decay
Define the activity of an unstable nucleus
Activity is the rate of decay of a source of unstable nuclei
What is the unit of radioactive activity
Becquerel(Bq)
What is count rate
The number of radioactive decays per second for a radioactive source
give an example of a detector that may be used to measure count rate
Geiger muller tube
What the three types of nuclear radiation
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
What thingy did in alpha
2 PROTONS AND NEUTRONS IT IS THE SAME AS A HELIUM NUCLEUS
WHAT IS THE RANGE KF AN APLHA PARTICLE THEIUGH SIR
2-10 CM
What will stop beta radiation from passing through a point
A THUN SHEET IF ALUMINIUM
SEVERAL METRES OF AIR
What will stop gamma radiation
SEVERAL CENTIMETRES IF LEAD AND A FEW METRES IF CONCRETE
Which type is most ionising
ALPHA RADIATIIN
Which type is least ionising
Gamma radiation
State the change to mass it change e that occur due to the emission of a gamma ray
Both mass and charge remain unchanged
Describe the nature of radioactive decay
Random
It is imposssibke to predict which nuclei will decay and when and nuclei decay is determined by chance
