P2 - Living for the Future Flashcards
(188 cards)
1
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What current does a photocell produce electricity with?
A
DC - like a battery.
2
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What does DC mean?
A
The current flows the same way round the circuit at all times.
3
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are photocells made of and why?
A
Silicon - a semi-conductor. When sunlight falls cell, silicon atoms absorb some energy, knocking loose some electrons. These flow around a circuit - electricity.
4
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What do curved mirrors do to sunlight and how can it be used to generate electricity?
A
Curved mirrors focus Sun’s light and heat. Used as solar oven & large mirrors or combo of small can be used to generate steam to produce electric. Most effective if they track sun’s movement across sky. Pointed directly at sun means maximum amount of light and heat.
5
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What is passive solar heating?
A
Energy from Sun is used to heat something directly.
6
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What does the current and output of a photocell depend on?
A
Its surface area (bigger = more electricity). Intensity of the light. Distance from the light source.
7
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
How do solar water heaters use passive solar heating?
A
Glass lets heat and light from sun in which is absorbed by black pipes and heats up water which can be used for washing or pumped to radiators to heat building.
8
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are the advantages of photocells?
A
No moving parts - sturdy, low maintenance and last a long time. No need for power cables or fuel. It’s renewable and doesn’t pollute environment.
9
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What does wind power involve?
A
Putting loads of wind turbines up in exposed places - like moors, coasts and out at sea. Sun’s energy heats atmosphere causing convection currents, wind. Turbines convert kinetic energy to electric. Blades turn a generator.
10
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
How does passive solar heating work?
A
Glass lets in heat & light from sun, which is absorbed by things in a room so they heat up. Light has short wavelength so it can pass through glass but heated things emit infrared radiation of longer wavelength, which can’t escape through glass - reflected back instead.
11
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are the disadvantages of photocells?
A
No sunlight = no power
12
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are the advantages of wind power?
A
Cheap to run, tough and reliable, wind is free. Doesn’t produce any polluting waste and it is also renewable.
13
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are the disadvantages of wind power?
A
1500 turbines needed to replace 1 coal station. Visual pollution, noise pollution, wind may not be fast enough, impossible to increase supply if extra demand, need to be spaced out - windy areas, expensive to set up - especially at sea.
14
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What is the 1st stage in a power station?
A
To use the fuel to produce heat which then generates steam - this is the job of the boiler.
15
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What is the 2nd stage in a power station?
A
The moving steam drives the blades of a turbine.
16
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What is the 3rd stage in a power station?
A
Rotating movement from turbine is converted into electricity by generator (using electromagnetic induction)
17
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are the advantages of fossil fuels?
A
- These burn to release energy.
- At moment, readily available, but finite.
- Concentrated source of energy (a little gives a lot)
18
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biomass?
A
- Can be burnt directly or fermented to produce methane that’s also burnt.
- Renewable and more can quickly be made.
- Carbon dioxide is produced but plants also take it to grow - carbon neutral.
- No need to import.
19
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What is electromagnetic induction?
A
Creation of a voltage (and maybe current) in a wire experiencing a change in magnetic field.
20
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What is the dynamo effect?
A
Using electromagnetic induction to transfrom kinetic energy into electrical energy.
21
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What are two situations where you get EM induction?
A
An electrical conductor moves through a magnetic field. And magnetic field through an electrical conductor changes.
22
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What can you do to get a bigger voltage and current?
A
Increase magnet strength, number of turns on coil and speed of movement.
23
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
What is the frequency of AC electrical supplies?
A
Number of cycles per second and is measured in Hertz (Hz) which means coil in the generator is rotating a certain number of times per second.
24
Q
P2 - Living for the Future
How do generators work?
A
Rotating a coil in a magnetic field. Every half turn, current in coil swaps direction and produces AC. Turning coil faster produces more peaks and higher voltage and current.
25
# P2 - Living for the Future
What happens to electricity before it is sent throughout the country?
Voltage is increased to 400,000V which keeps current low meaning less wasted energy because heat of the cable is reduced.
26
# P2 - Living for the Future
How is electricity brought down to a safe voltage?
Using a step-down transformer scattered around towns. Transformers only work with AC.
27
# P2 - Living for the Future
What is the equation to calculate total energy input?
useful energy output + waste energy output
28
# P2 - Living for the Future
How is efficiency calculated?
(Useful energy output ÷ total energy input) x100
29
# P2 - Living for the Future
What is power measured in?
Watts (W) or kilowatts (kW) - where 1 watt means 1 joule per second
30
# P2 - Living for the Future
What is the equation for power (W)?
Voltage (V) x Current (A)
31
# P2 - Living for the Future
What is a Kilowatt Hour?
The amount of electrical energy converted by a 1kW appliance left on for 1 hour.
32
# P2 - Living for the Future
How is energy supplied calculated?
Power (in kW) x Time (Hours)
33
# P2 - Living for the Future
What are the advantages of using off-peak electricity?
Cost effective for the electrical company - power stations can't be turned off so it's good if there is demand. Cheaper for the consumer.
34
# P2 - Living for the Future
What are the disadvantages of using off-peak electricity?
Increased risk of fires with unsupervised appliances. Start fitting routine around cheap rate hours.
35
# P2 - Living for the Future
How does the greenhouse effect regulate the Earth's temperature?
Earth absorbs short wavelength EM radiation from Sun. Warms Earth's surface & some is emitted back out to space. Emitted waves are usually longer. Lots of infrared absorbed by atmospheric gases & re-radiate heat back towards Earth. Acts as an insulating layer.
36
# P2 - Living for the Future
What factors are causing CO2 levels to rise?
* People use more energy, e.g. in cars which need burned fossil fuels which release CO2
* Land needed - trees chopped so less absorbed and more released from burning
* Respiration
* Volcanic eruptions.
37
# P2 - Living for the Future
What factors are causing methane levels to rise?
* Cattle farming increased to feed population.
* Decaying waste is increasing.
* Methane released naturally by volcanoes, wetlands and animals.
38
# P2 - Living for the Future
What factors are causing water vapour levels to rise?
* Most from natural sources like oceans, seas, river and lakes.
* Increase in global temperature
* Power stations
39
# P2 - Living for the Future
What can a change in temperature cause?
* Different weather patterns, including extreme weather.
* Hurricanes form more often because there will be more hot water where hurricanes normally form.
* Food production, too, with places made unsuitable to grow.
40
# P2 - Living for the Future
What human actions can cause a change to the weather/temperature?
Rising CO2 caused by humans affects the greenhouse effect, hence causing global warming. Soot and gases produced by factories reflect heat which causes an increase in local temperatures.
41
# P2 - Living for the Future
What happens when radiation causes ionisation?
The radiation causes atoms to lose or gain electrons turning the atoms into ions. Positive ions are formed when ions lose electrons. Negative ions are formed when atoms gain electrons.
42
# P2 - Living for the Future
Describe the properties of alpha particles…
Relatively big, heavy and slow moving (2 protons and 2 neutrons). Stopped very quickly due to size. Don't penetrate far into materials. Strongly ionising.
43
# P2 - Living for the Future
Why is gamma better for sterilising medical instruments?
Gamma kills all the microbe. It is better than boiling because plastic ones may get damaged. It needs to be a strongly radioactive source that’s lasts long so it doesn't need replacing often.
44
# P2 - Living for the Future
What determines a radiation's ionising power?
How far it can penetrate materials. The further the radiation can penetrate before hitting an atom, the less ionising it is.
45
# P2 - Living for the Future
What natural actions can cause a change to the weather/temperature?
Ash and gases from volcanoes can reflect radiation back into space, causing Earth to cool down. Changes in our orbit around the sun can cause ice ages.
46
# P2 - Living for the Future
What happens when radiation enters human cells?
It can ionise molecules and damage DNA which causes mutations in the cell that could lead to cancer. Very high doses can kill cells completely.
47
# P2 - Living for the Future
Describe the properties of beta particles…
Just electrons. Small and move quite fast. Penetrate moderately before colliding so they are moderately ionising but can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium.
48
# P2 - Living for the Future
Name two ways beta radiation can be used…
Medical tracers and thickness control.
49
# P2 - Living for the Future
How is beta used in thickness control?
When radiation goes down, paper has become too thick so rollers make it thinner. If it goes up, paper is too thin. Beta used - partially blocked by cardboard - if all went through, wouldn't change reading at all.
50
# P2 - Living for the Future
Describe the properties of gamma particles…
Type of EM radiation. No mass and no charge. Penetrates long way, weakly ionising. Stopped by very thick concrete or few cm of lead. The nucleus of alpha/beta may need to get rid of extra energy - emits gamma.
51
# P2 - Living for the Future
How is beta radiation used in tracers?
Once inside body, an external radiation detector converts the reading into a TV display showing where the strongest readings are from. Can show if body works properly. Beta used - passes through body and only radioactive for a few hours.
52
# P2 - Living for the Future
How is gamma used to kill cancer?
Rays are directed carefully at the cancer and is at the right dosage to kill the cancer without harming normal cells
53
# P2 - Living for the Future
What can alpha radiation be used in?
Smoke detectors - They have weak source of radiation and 2 electrodes. The radiation ionises the air and a current flows between the electrodes. In a fire, the smoke absorbs radiation - the current stops and sounds the alarm.
54
# P2 - Living for the Future
How is gamma used in non-destructive testing?
E.g. airlines check turbine blades in engines by directing gamma at them. If too much gets through to the detector, the blade is cracked or there's a welding fault.
55
# P2 - Living for the Future
What happens to produce nuclear power?
Nuclear fission - atoms in the nuclear fuel are split in 2. Water is added as a coolant to take away the heat and this is used to create steam to drive a turbine and generator.
56
# P2 - Living for the Future
What are the advantages of nuclear power?
Lots of energy made without releasing lots of CO₂. More energy is released - less uranium produces more. Fuel is relatively cheap and plenty of uranium is left in the ground.
57
# P2 - Living for the Future
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power?
Stations are expensive to build and maintain. Takes longer to start up nuclear power stations than fossil. Processing uranium causes pollution. Leaks are a risk. Disposing of radioactive waste. Decommissioning is expensive. Uranium is non-renewable.
58
# P2 - Living for the Future
What safety rules are there for working with radiation?
Full protective suits prevent radioactive particles being inhaled, lodging on skin/under fingernails. Lead-lined suits or barriers and thick lead screens shield workers from gamma in highly radioactive areas. Remote controlled robotic arms used.
59
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How can low level radioactive waste be disposed of?
Like paper, gloves, clothing, syringes can be disposed of by burying it in a secure landfill
60
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How can low level radioactive waste be disposed of?
Often sealed into glass blocks, then in metall canisters and then buried deep underground. Stays highly radioactive for tens of thousands of years.
61
# P2 - Living for the Future
What force is acting on everything in the solar system?
Gravitational attraction - pulls everything in Universe towards everything else.
62
# P2 - Living for the Future
What is circular motion and centripetal force?
Circular motion is always caused by a force towards the centre of the circle. For planets, moon etc in an orbit, this force is gravity. A force that causes a circular motion is called a centripetal force.
63
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How was the asteroid belt formed?
When the Solar System was forming, rocks betweeen Mars and Jupiter didn't form a planet due to Jupiter's gravity interfering . This left millions of asteroids - rubble and rock - measuring up to 1000km in diameter.
64
# P2 - Living for the Future
What are meteors?
Rocks or dust that enters the Earth's atmosphere an burn up - so we see shooting stars. If it doesn't burn up, and hits Earth, they are meteorites.
65
# P2 - Living for the Future
What can happen if a meteorite hits Earth?
Fires can start, hot rocks and dust thrown in air, craters. Dust and smoke can block out sunlight causing climate change (species extinct).
66
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How can we tell that asteroids have collided with Earth in the past?
Layers of unusual elements in rocks and sudden changes in fossil numbers between adjacent layers of rock, as species suffer extinction.
67
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How do comets orbit?
Balls of rock, dust and ice orbit in elongated ellipses. Approaching sun, ice melts and creates tail of gas and debris. Speed up as they approach sun because Sun's graviational pull increases as it gets closer.
68
# P2 - Living for the Future
What are NEOs?
Near-Earth Objects - asteroids or comets which might be on a collision course with the Earth.
69
# P2 - Living for the Future
How are NEOs monitored?
Astronomers use powerful telescopes and satellites to search and monitor. When found, they can calculate the objects trajectory. Can be difficult to spot - they are small, dark and many have unusual orbits.
70
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What happens if an NEO is heading for Earth?
Small NEOs would burn up harmlessly. Enough warning - may be able to deflect it. Eploding a bomb in, on or close to it might nudge it off course.
71
# P2 - Living for the Future
How do scientists think our moon was formed?
When our planet collided side-on with Earth. A Mars-sized planet. In the heat, dense iron cores merged to form Earth's core and less dense material ejected. This orbited Earth and came together to be the Moon.
72
# P2 - Living for the Future
What evidence is there to support the theory of the moon's formation?
The moon has a lower density than Earth and doesn't have a big iron core like Earth. Moon rocks contain few substances which evaporate at low temperatures - suggesting the Moon formed from hot material.
73
# P2 - Living for the Future
What is a light year?
The distance that light travels through a vacuum in one year. It is a measure of DISTANCE!
74
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What are black holes?
When a really big star explodes. Have very large mass, small volume and very high density. Not visible - even light can't escape gravitational pull.
75
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How can astronomers observe black holes?
Using x-rays emitted by hot gases from other stars as they spiral into the black hole.
76
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What are the issues with manned spacecraft?
Have to carry loads of food, water and O₂, have to shield people from radiation, low gravity causes muscle wastage and loss of bone tissue. Psychologically stressful - same people in a small space for ages.
77
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What are the advantages of unmanned space probes?
No need to carry food, water, oxygen. Withstand extreme conditions humans can't. More instruments fitted instead of people. Cheaper, less spent on safety. In a crash, no one gets hurt.
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What are the disadvantages of unmanned space probes?
Probes can’t think for themselves. Spacecraft can't do maintenance or repairs whereeas people can.
79
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How is data from spacecraft sent back to earth?
From distant objects: data needs to be beamed using radio waves. From nearer objects: probes or people could collect samples and physically bring them back to Earth.
80
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What does measurement of red shift suggest?
That all distant galaxies are moving away from us very quickly - and it's all the same result whichever direction you look in.
81
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What is the relationship between red shift and more distant galaxies?
More distant galaxies have greater red-shifts than nearer ones. This means more distant galaxies are moving away faster than nearer ones - the Universe is expanding.
82
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What is cosmic background radiation?
Scientists can detect low frequency microwave radiation coming from all directions and parts of the Universe. It is strong evidence of the Big Bang. As the Universe expands and cools, the CBR cools and drops in frequency.
83
# P2 - Living for the Future
What did the Copernican model state?
That the Earth and planets all orbited the Sun which is at the centre of the universe, in perfect circles. It is a heliocentric model (sun at centre).
84
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What evidence did Galileo find to support Copernicus?
Using telescope (new invention) saw stars in line near planet. Stars never moved, seemed to be carried along with planet (Jupiter). Suggested not stars, but moons. Showed not all was in orbit around Earth - Ptolemaic wrong.
85
# P2 - Living for the Future
What did Galileo notice about Venus?
Venus had phases. Amount Venus lit by Sun changed over time. Ptolemaic theory meant changes would be small, Venus would always be infront of Sun, but Copernican: Venus could move in front & behind Sun, changes would be big - like Galileo saw.
86
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What did the Ptolemaic model suggest?
That everything orbited Earth in perfect circles. Also known as geocentric model. Ancient Greeks accepted theory in the 1500s until Copernican model put forward.
87
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How is a protostar formed?
Gravity makes the gas an dust used to form stars spiral together. Gravitational energy has been converted into heat energy so the temperature rises.
88
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How is the main sequence star formed?
When temperature gets high enough, hydrogen nuclei undergo thermonuclear fusion - form helium nuclei & gives out heat & light. Star enters long stable period where heat created by fusion provides outward pressure to balance gravity pulling everything inwards. Typically lasts several billion years.
89
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How is a red giant formed?
Hydrogen begins to run out and the star then swells in to a red giant - it becomes red because the surface cools.
90
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How is a planetary nebula formed?
A small-to-medium-sized star like the Sun then becomes unstable and ejects its outer layer of dust and gas as a planetary nebula.
91
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What is a white dwarf?
The planetary nebula leaves behind a hot, dense solid core - a white dwarf - which just cools down and eventually fades away.
92
# P2 - Living for the Future
What leads to a supernova?
Big stars form red supergiants - start to glow brightly again as they undergo more fusion & expand & contract several times, forming heavier elements in various nuclear reactions. Eventually they explode - supernova.
93
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How are neutron stars formed?
Exploding supernova throws outer layers of dust and gas into space, leaving very dense core called a neutron star. If star is big enough, becomes black hole.
94
# P2 - Living for the Future
DC - like a battery.
What current does a photocell produce electricity with?
95
# P2 - Living for the Future
The current flows the same way round the circuit at all times.
What does DC mean?
96
# P2 - Living for the Future
Silicon - a semi-conductor. When sunlight falls cell, the silicon atoms absorb some of the energy, knocking loose some electrons. These then flow round a circuit - electricity.
What are photocells made of and why?
97
# P2 - Living for the Future
Curved mirrors focus Sun's light and heat. Used as solar oven & large mirrors or combo of small can be used to generate steam to produce electric. Most effective if they track sun's movement across sky. Pointed directly at sun means maximum amount of light and heat.
What do curved mirrors do to sunlight and how can it be used to generate electricity?
98
# P2 - Living for the Future
Energy from Sun is used to heat something directly.
What is passive solar heating?
99
# P2 - Living for the Future
Its surface area (bigger = more electricity). Intensity of the light. Distance from the light source.
What does the current and output of a photocell depend on?
100
# P2 - Living for the Future
Glass lets heat and light from sun in which is absorbed by black pipes and heats up water which can be used for washing or pumped to radiators to heat building.
How do solar water heaters use passive solar heating?
101
# P2 - Living for the Future
No moving parts - sturdy, low maintenance and last a long time. No need for power cables or fuel. It's renewable and doesn't pollute environment.
What are the advantages of photocells?
102
# P2 - Living for the Future
Putting loads of wind turbines up in exposed places - like moors, coasts and out at sea. Sun's energy heats atmosphere causing convection currents, wind. Turbines convert kinetic energy to electric. Blades turn a generator.
What does wind power involve?
103
# P2 - Living for the Future
Glass lets in heat & light from sun, which is absorbed by things in a room so they heat up. Light has short wavelength so it can pass through glass but heated things emit infrared radiation of longer wavelength, which can't escape through glass - reflected back instead.
How does passive solar heating work?
104
# P2 - Living for the Future
No sunlight = no power
What are the disadvantages of photocells?
105
# P2 - Living for the Future
Cheap to run, tough and reliable, wind is free. Doesn't produce any polluting waste and it is also renewable.
What are the advantages of wind power?
106
# P2 - Living for the Future
1500 turbines needed to replace 1 coal station. Visual pollution, noise pollution, wind may not be fast enough, impossible to increase supply if extra demand, need to be spaced out - windy areas, expensive to set up - especially at sea.
What are the disadvantages of wind power?
107
# P2 - Living for the Future
To use the fuel to produce heat which then generates steam - this is the job of the boiler.
What is the 1st stage in a power station?
108
# P2 - Living for the Future
The moving steam drives the blades of a turbine.
What is the 2nd stage in a power station?
109
# P2 - Living for the Future
Rotating movement from turbine is converted into electricity by generator (using electromagnetic induction)
What is the 3rd stage in a power station?
110
# P2 - Living for the Future
* These burn to release energy.
* At moment, readily available, but finite.
* Concentrated source of energy (a little gives a lot)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels?
111
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1. Can be burnt directly or fermented to produce methane that's also burnt.
2. Renewable and more can quickly be made.
3. CO2 is produced but plants also take it to grow - carbon neutral.
4. No need to import.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biomass?
112
# P2 - Living for the Future
Creation of a voltage (and maybe current) in a wire experiencing a change in magnetic field.
What is electromagnetic induction?
113
# P2 - Living for the Future
Using electromagnetic induction to transfrom kinetic energy into electrical energy.
What is the dynamo effect?
114
# P2 - Living for the Future
An electrical conductor moves through a magnetic field. And magnetic field through an electrical conductor changes.
What are two situations where you get EM induction?
115
# P2 - Living for the Future
Increase magnet strength, number of turns on coil and speed of movement.
What can you do to get a bigger voltage and current?
116
# P2 - Living for the Future
Number of cycles per second and is measured in Hertz (Hz) which means coil in the generator is rotating a certain number of times per second.
What is the frequency of AC electrical supplies?
117
# P2 - Living for the Future
Rotating a coil in a magnetic field. Every half turn, current in coil swaps direction and produces AC. Turning coil faster produces more peaks and higher voltage and current.
How do generators work?
118
# P2 - Living for the Future
Voltage is increased to 400,000V which keeps current low meaning less wasted energy because heat of the cable is reduced.
What happens to electricity before it is sent throughout the country?
119
# P2 - Living for the Future
Using a step-down transformer scattered around towns. Transformers only work with AC.
How is electricity brought down to a safe voltage?
120
# P2 - Living for the Future
useful energy output + waste energy output
What is the equation to calculate total energy input?
121
# P2 - Living for the Future
(Useful energy output ÷ total energy input) x100
How is efficiency calculated?
122
# P2 - Living for the Future
Watts (W) or kilowatts (kW) - where 1 watt means 1 joule per second
What is power measured in?
123
# P2 - Living for the Future
Voltage (V) x Current (A)
What is the equation for power (W)?
124
# P2 - Living for the Future
The amount of electrical energy converted by a 1kW appliance left on for 1 hour.
What is a Kilowatt Hour?
125
# P2 - Living for the Future
Power (in kW) x Time (Hours)
How is energy supplied calculated?
126
# P2 - Living for the Future
Cost effective for the electrical company - power stations can't be turned off so it's good if there is demand. Cheaper for the consumer.
What are the advantages of using off-peak electricity?
127
# P2 - Living for the Future
Increased risk of fires with unsupervised appliances. You also start fitting your routine around the cheap rate hours.
What are the disadvantages of using off-peak electricity?
128
# P2 - Living for the Future
Earth absorbs short wavelength EM radiation from Sun. Warms Earth's surface & then some is emitted back out to space. Emitted waves are usually longer. Lots of infrared absorbed by atmospheric gases &; re-radiate heat back towards Earth. Acts as an insulating layer.
How does the greenhouse effect regulate the Earth's temperature?
129
# P2 - Living for the Future
People use more energy, e.g. in cars which needs burned fossil fuels which releases carbon dioxide. Land is needed, meaning trees are chopped so less is absorbed and more is released from burning. Respiration and volcanic eruptions.
What factors are causing Carbon dioxide levels to rise?
130
# P2 - Living for the Future
Cattle farming increased to feed population. Decaying waste is increasing, causing levels to. Methan is released naturally by volcanoes, wetlands and animals.
What factors are causing methane levels to rise?
131
# P2 - Living for the Future
Most comes from natural sources like oceans, seas, river and lakes. Increase in global temperature could increase water vapour. Power stations also produce vapour.
What factors are causing water vapour levels to rise?
132
# P2 - Living for the Future
Different weather patterns, including extreme weather. Hurricanes will form more often because there will be more hot water where hurricanes normally form. Food production, too, with places made unsuitable to grow.
What can a change in temperature cause?
133
# P2 - Living for the Future
Rising carbon dioxide caused by humans affects the greenhouse effect, hence causing global warming. Soot and gases produced by factories reflect heat which causes an increase in local temperatures.
What human actions can cause a change to the weather/temperature?
134
# P2 - Living for the Future
The radiation causes atoms to lose or gain electrons turning the atoms into ions. Positive ions are formed when ions lose electrons. Negative ions are formed when atoms gain electrons.
What happens when radiation causes ionisation?
135
# P2 - Living for the Future
Relatively big, heavy and slow moving (2 protons and 2 neutrons). Stopped very quickly due to size. Don't penetrate far into materials. Strongly ionising.
Describe the properties of alpha particles…
136
# P2 - Living for the Future
Gamma kills all the microbe. It is better than boiling because plastic ones may get damaged. It needs to be a strongly radioactive source that’s lasts long so it doesn't need replacing often.
Why is gamma better for sterilising medical instruments?
137
# P2 - Living for the Future
How far it can penetrate materials. The further the radiation can penetrate before hitting an atom, the less ionising it is.
What determines a radiation's ionising power?
138
# P2 - Living for the Future
Ash and gases from volcanoes can reflect radiation back into space, causing Earth to cool down. Changes in our orbit around the sun can cause ice ages.
What natural actions can cause a change to the weather/temperature?
139
# P2 - Living for the Future
It can ionise molecules and damage DNA which causes mutations in the cell that could lead to cancer. Very high doses can kill cells completely.
What happens when radiation enters human cells?
140
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Just electrons. Small and move quite fast. Penetrate moderately before colliding so they are moderately ionising but can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium.
Describe the properties of beta particles…
141
# P2 - Living for the Future
Medical tracers and thickness control.
Name two ways beta radiation can be used…
142
# P2 - Living for the Future
When radiation goes down, paper has become too thick so rollers make it thinner. If it goes up, paper is too thin. Beta used - partially blocked by cardboard - if all went through, wouldn't change reading at all.
How is beta used in thickness control?
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Type of EM radiation. No mass and no charge. Penetrates long way, weakly ionising. Stopped by very thick concrete or few cm of lead. The nucleus of alpha/beta may need to get rid of extra energy - emits gamma.
Describe the properties of gamma particles…
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Once inside body, an external radiation detector converts the reading into a TV display showing where the strongest readings are from. Can show if body works properly. Beta used - passes through body and only radioactive for a few hours.
How is beta radiation used in tracers?
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Rays are directed carefully at the cancer and is at the right dosage to kill the cancer without harming normal cells
How is gamma used to kill cancer?
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Smoke detectors - They have weak source of radiation and 2 electrodes. The radiation ionises the air and a current flows between the electrodes. In a fire, the smoke absorbs radiation - the current stops and sounds the alarm.
What can alpha radiation be used in?
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E.g. airlines check turbine blades in engines by directing gamma at them. If too much gets through to the detector, the blade is cracked or there's a welding fault.
How is gamma used in non-destructive testing?
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Nuclear fission - atoms in the nuclear fuel are split in 2. Water is added as a coolant to take away the heat and this is used to create steam to drive a turbine and generator.
What happens to produce nuclear power?
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Lots of energy made without releasing lots of CO₂. More energy is released - less uranium produces more. Fuel is relatively cheap and plenty of uranium is left in the ground.
What are the advantages of nuclear power?
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Stations are expensive to build and maintain. Takes longer to start up nuclear power stations than fossil. Processing uranium causes pollution. Leaks are a risk. Disposing of radioactive waste. Decommissioning is expensive. Uranium is non-renewable.
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power?
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Full protective suits prevent radioactive particles being inhaled, lodging on skin/under fingernails. Lead-lined suits or barriers and thick lead screens shield workers from gamma in highly radioactive areas. Remote controlled robotic arms used.
What safety rules are there for working with radiation?
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Like paper, gloves, clothing, syringes can be disposed of by burying it in a secure landfill
How can low level radioactive waste be disposed of?
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Often sealed into glass blocks, then in metall canisters and then buried deep underground. Stays highly radioactive for tens of thousands of years.
How can low level radioactive waste be disposed of?
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Gravitational attraction - pulls everything in Universe towards everything else.
What force is acting on everything in the solar system?
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Circular motion is always caused by a force towards the centre of the circle. For planets, moon etc in an orbit, this force is gravity. A force that causes a circular motion is called a centripetal force.
What is circular motion and centripetal force?
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When the Solar System was forming, rocks betweeen Mars and Jupiter didn't form a planet due to Jupiter's gravity interfering . This left millions of asteroids - rubble and rock - measuring up to 1000km in diameter.
How was the asteroid belt formed?
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Rocks or dust that enters the Earth's atmosphere an burn up - so we see shooting stars. If it doesn't burn up, and hits Earth, they are meteorites.
What are meteors?
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Fires can start, hot rocks and dust thrown in air, craters. Dust and smoke can block out sunlight causing climate change (species extinct).
What can happen if a meteorite hits Earth?
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Layers of unusual elements in rocks and sudden changes in fossil numbers between adjacent layers of rock, as species suffer extinction.
How can we tell that asteroids have collided with Earth in the past?
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Balls of rock, dust and ice orbit in elongated ellipses. Approaching sun, ice melts and creates tail of gas and debris. Speed up as they approach sun because Sun's graviational pull increases as it gets closer.
How do comets orbit?
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Near-Earth Objects - asteroids or comets which might be on a collision course with the Earth.
What are NEOs?
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Astronomers use powerful telescopes and satellites to search and monitor. When found, they can calculate the objects trajectory. Can be difficult to spot - they are small, dark and many have unusual orbits.
How are NEOs monitored?
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Small NEOs would burn up harmlessly. Enough warning - may be able to deflect it. Eploding a bomb in, on or close to it might nudge it off course.
What happens if an NEO is heading for Earth?
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When our planet collided side-on with Earth. A Mars-sized planet. In the heat, dense iron cores merged to form Earth's core and less dense material ejected. This orbited Earth and came together to be the Moon.
How do scientists think our moon was formed?
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The moon has a lower density than Earth and doesn't have a big iron core like Earth. Moon rocks contain few substances which evaporate at low temperatures - suggesting the Moon formed from hot material.
What evidence is there to support the theory of the moon's formation?
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The distance that light travels through a vacuum in one year. It is a measure of DISTANCE!
What is a light year?
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When a really big star explodes. Have very large mass, small volume and very high density. Not visible - even light can't escape gravitational pull.
What are black holes?
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Using x-rays emitted by hot gases from other stars as they spiral into the black hole.
How can astronomers observe black holes?
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Have to carry loads of food, water and O₂, have to shield people from radiation, low gravity causes muscle wastage and loss of bone tissue. Psychologically stressful - same people in a small space for ages.
What are the issues with manned spacecraft?
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No need to carry food, water, oxygen. Withstand extreme conditions humans can't. More instruments fitted instead of people. Cheaper, less spent on safety. In a crash, no one gets hurt.
What are the advantages of unmanned space probes?
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Probes can’t think for themselves. Spacecraft can't do maintenance or repairs whereeas people can.
What are the disadvantages of unmanned space probes?
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From distant objects: data needs to be beamed using radio waves. From nearer objects: probes or people could collect samples and physically bring them back to Earth.
How is data from spacecraft sent back to earth?
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That all distant galaxies are moving away from us very quickly - and it's all the same result whichever direction you look in.
What does measurement of red shift suggest?
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More distant galaxies have greater red-shifts than nearer ones. This means more distant galaxies are moving away faster than nearer ones - the Universe is expanding.
What is the relationship between red shift and more distant galaxies?
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Scientists can detect low frequency microwave radiation coming from all directions and parts of the Universe. It is strong evidence of the Big Bang. As the Universe expands and cools, the CBR cools and drops in frequency.
What is cosmic background radiation?
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That the Earth and planets all orbited the Sun which is at the centre of the universe, in perfect circles. It is a heliocentric model (sun at centre).
What did the Copernican model state?
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Using telescope (new invention) saw stars in line near planet. Stars never moved, seemed to be carried along with planet (Jupiter). Suggested not stars, but moons. Showed not all was in orbit around Earth - Ptolemaic wrong.
What evidence did Galileo find to support Copernicus?
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Venus had phases. Amount Venus lit by Sun changed over time. Ptolemaic theory meant changes would be small, Venus would always be infront of Sun, but Copernican: Venus could move in front & behind Sun, changes would be big - like Galileo saw.
What did Galileo notice about Venus?
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That everything orbited Earth in perfect circles. Also known as geocentric model. Ancient Greeks accepted theory in the 1500s until Copernican model put forward.
What did the Ptolemaic model suggest?
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Gravity makes the gas an dust used to form stars spiral together. Gravitational energy has been converted into heat energy so the temperature rises.
How is a protostar formed?
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When temperature gets high enough, hydrogen nuclei undergo thermonuclear fusion - form helium nuclei & gives out heat & light. Star enters long stable period where heat created by fusion provides outward pressure to balance gravity pulling everything inwards. Typically lasts several billion years.
How is the main sequence star formed?
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Hydrogen begins to run out and the star then swells in to a red giant - it becomes red because the surface cools.
How is a red giant formed?
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A small-to-medium-sized star like the Sun then becomes unstable and ejects its outer layer of dust and gas as a planetary nebula.
How is a planetary nebula formed?
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The planetary nebula leaves behind a hot, dense solid core - a white dwarf - which just cools down and eventually fades away.
What is a white dwarf?
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Big stars form red supergiants - start to glow brightly again as they undergo more fusion & expand & contract several times, forming heavier elements in various nuclear reactions. Eventually they explode - supernova.
What leads to a supernova?
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Exploding supernova throws outer layers of dust and gas into space, leaving very dense core called a neutron star. If star is big enough, becomes black hole.
How are neutron stars formed?
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What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?
* Cause acid rain and carbon dioxide.
* Bought from other countries = no control prices and supply.
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* Cause acid rain and carbon dioxide.
* Bought from other countries = no control prices and supply.
What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?
