Radiation Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is radiation?
Radiation is the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles.
True or False: All types of radiation are harmful to humans.
False
What are the three main types of ionizing radiation?
Alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.
Fill in the blank: Alpha particles consist of ___ protons and ___ neutrons.
2, 2
Which type of radiation has the highest penetrating power?
Gamma rays
What is the charge of a beta particle?
Negative
True or False: Gamma rays can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
False
What unit is used to measure the activity of a radioactive source?
Becquerel (Bq)
What is half-life?
The time taken for the activity of a radioactive substance to reduce to half its initial value.
What type of radiation is emitted during alpha decay?
Alpha particles
True or False: Beta particles can penetrate through skin but are stopped by aluminum.
True
What is a common use of gamma radiation?
Medical imaging and cancer treatment.
Multiple Choice: Which type of radiation is most commonly used in smoke detectors? A) Alpha B) Beta C) Gamma
A) Alpha
What is the primary hazard associated with ionizing radiation?
It can damage living tissue and DNA.
Fill in the blank: The process of a nucleus losing energy by emitting radiation is called ___.
Radioactive decay
What is the effect of radiation on living cells?
It can cause mutations, cell death, or cancer.
True or False: Non-ionizing radiation is harmful to human health.
False
What did Rutherford discover about the atom and how?
Gold foil experiment.
1. Most alpha particles went through the foil- Atom is mostly empty space.
2.A few of them were deflected- Positive charge in centre.
- A small amount were rebounded- Large mass at centre.
Describe how radiation given out by the nucleus affects the structure of the nucleus.
The nucleus decays if the atom is unstable. Atoms can decay by emitting alpha, beta, or Gama radiation in particles or waves. For a beta decay, the nucleus emits an electron, while converting a neutron into a proton. If it was alpha, it would lose 2 protons and 2 neutrons. A gamma decay wouldn’t change anything, as it’s just a wave.
What is nuclear fission?
When the nucleus of an atom absorbs a neutron, splits it into 2 smaller nuclei.
What is nuclear fission?
When the nucleus of an atom absorbs a neutron, splits it into 2 smaller nuclei.
Why does a beta decay not change the mass number of an atom?
In beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton, which increases the atomic number by 1 while the mass number remains the same
