Isotopes And Nuclear Radiation Flashcards
What are isotopes
Atoms with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons
What do other on stable isotopes tend to do
Tend to decay into other elements and give out radiation as they tried to become more stable
Describe the process of radioactive decay
They tried to balance the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus or get rid of any excess energy
What three types of ionising radiation do radioactive substances spit out
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
What is ionising radiation
Radiation that knocks electrons of atoms creating positive ions
What is an alpha particle
Alpha radiation is when an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus
Didn’t penetrate for into materials and stopped quickly
Because of the size they are strongly ionising
What is the structure of an alpha particle
It has two neutrons and two protons like a helium nucleus
What are beta particles
Electron released by the nucleus
No mass and charge of -1
Moderately ionising they penetrate moderately far
What happens for every beta particle that is emitted
A neutron in the nucleus has turned into a proton
What is a gamma ray
EM waves released by the nucleus
They penetrate far into materials without being stopped
Weakly ionising as they tend to pass through rather than collide
Can be absorbed by thick sheets of lead or metres of concrete
