P6 Radioactivity Flashcards
What is an absorber?
A material designed to block and take in the energy from radiation
What is an absorption spectrum?
Formed when white light is passed through a gas
What is the atomic number?
Number of protons in an atom
What is background radiation?
The consistent amount of radiation in a location due to everyday causes
What is a chain reaction ?
Each of the neutrons released triggers a chain reaction of decay
What is contamination?
When a source of nuclear radiation ends up on or inside an object where it should not be
What is decay?
When a radioactive nuclei emits radiation from a nucleus forming a new nucleus
What is the emission spectrum?
Different elements have different energy levels and therefore produce a unique pattern of frequencies of light
What is fission?
The process of an unstable nucleus breaking apart to form two or more lighter nuclei, releasing lots of energy
What is fusion?
The process where two nuclei join to form a larger nucleus
What is half life?
A measure of how quickly a radioactive sample decays - measured in seconds
What does ionising mean?
Ability to create ions
What is irradiation?
If we are exposed to nuclear radiation such as alpha, beta or gamma we are said to be irradiated
What are isotopes?
Different forms of the same element
What is the mass number?
The relative atomic mass of an atom, essentially the liver of protons and neutrons it has
