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IGCSE PHYSICS REVISION > Nuclear Physics Details > Flashcards

Nuclear Physics Details Flashcards

1
Q

Structure of an atom

A

-Contains a positively charged nucleus(surrounded by mostly empty space)
-There are negatively charged electrons orbiting around the nucleus

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2
Q

Protons and neutrons are bound together by a…

A

strong nuclear force

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3
Q

Regarding mass, the nucleus contains…

A

most of the mass of an atom(the electrons barely have any mass)

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4
Q

Relative charge of protons

A

+1

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5
Q

Relative charge of electrons

A

-1

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6
Q

Relative charge of neutrons

A

0

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7
Q

Sources that significantly contribute to background radiation

A

-Radon gas(in the air)
-Rocks and buildings
-Food and drink
-Cosmic rays

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8
Q

How ionising nuclear radiation can be measured

A

Using a detector connected to a counter

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9
Q

Nature of the emission of radiation from a nucleus

A

Spontaneous and random in direction

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10
Q

Types of nuclear radiation

A

-Alpha particles
-Beta particles
-Gamma rays

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11
Q

Description of alpha particles

A

Each particle is 2 protons + 2 neutrons(identical to a nucleus of helium-4)

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12
Q

Description of beta particles

A

Each particle is an electron(created when the nucleus decays)

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13
Q

Description of gamma rays

A

Electromagnetic waves(similar to X-rays)

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14
Q

Relative charge of alpha particles

A

+2

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15
Q

Relative charge of beta particles

A

-1

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16
Q

Relative charge of gamma rays

A

0

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17
Q

Mass of alpha particles

A

High(compared to beta particles)

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18
Q

Mass of beta particles

A

Low

19
Q

Mass of gamma rays

A

No mass

20
Q

Speed of alpha particles

A

Up to 0.1× the speed of light

21
Q

Speed of beta particles

A

Up to 0.9× the speed of light

22
Q

Speed of gamma rays

A

Speed of light

23
Q
A
24
Q

Ionizing effect of alpha particles

A

Strong

24
Q

Ionizing effect of gamma rays

A

Very weak

25
Q

Ionizing effect of beta particles

A

Weak

26
Q

Penetrating effect of alpha particles

A

Not very penetrating(stopped by a thick sheet of paper, or by skin, or by a few centimetres of air)

27
Q

Penetrating effect of beta particles

A

Penetrating(stopped by a few millimetres of aluminium or other metal)

28
Q

Penetrating effect of gamma rays

A

Very penetrating(never completely stopped, though lead and thick concrete reduce its intensity)

29
Q

Effect of magnetic/electric fields on alpha particles

A

Deflected by magnetic and electric fields

30
Q

Effect of magnetic/electric fields on beta particles

A

Deflected by magnetic and electric fields

31
Q

Effect of magnetic/electric fields on gamma rays

A

Not deflected by magnetic and electric fields

32
Q

Symbol for alpha particles

A

α

33
Q

Symbol for beta particles

A

β–

34
Q

Symbol for gamma rays

A

γ

35
Q

(In terms of ionizing effect)The greater the charge of the radiation…

A

the more ionising it is

36
Q

(In terms of ionizing effect)The greater the kinetic energy of the radiation…

A

the more ionising it is

37
Q

Why isotopes of an element may be radioactive

A

There may be an excess of neutrons in the nucleus and/or the nucleus may be too heavy

38
Q

Effect of α-decay, β-decay and γ-emissions on the nucleus

A

-Increase in stability
-Reduction in the number of excess electrons

39
Q

What happens in alpha decay

A

An alpha particle(2 neutrons + 2 protons) leaves the nucleus(with 2 protons and 2 neutrons less than before)

40
Q

What happens in beta decay

A

-A neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton and an electron
-The electron is fired out of the nucleus whilst the proton remains

41
Q

Uses of radioactive isotopes

A

-Household fire(smoke) alarms(Americium-241)
-Irradiating food to kill bacteria
-Sterilisation of equipment using gamma rays
-Diagnosis and treatment of cancer using gamma rays
-Tracers(iodine isotopes)
-Radioactive dating(carbon and uranium isotopes)

42
Q

Effects of ionising nuclear radiation on living things

A

-Cell death
-Mutations
-Cancer

43
Q

Safety precautions for ionising radiation

A

-Reducing exposure time
-Increasing distance between source and living tissue
-Using shielding(eg. lead barriers) to absorb radiation

IGCSE PHYSICS REVISION (13 decks)

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