Radiation Flashcards
(16 cards)
Why do atoms give out radiation
Attempts to become more stable
What is an alpha particle
A helium nucleus
2 protons and 2 neutrons
What is Alpha radiation
An alpha particle
Cannot penetrate far (stopped by paper)
Highly ionising
What is beta radiation
An electron
Can penetrate further than alpha radiation (stopped by aluminium)
Moderately ionising
What is gamma radiation
Electromagnetic Waves
Highly penetrating (lead or concrete)
Lowly ionising
How is alpha radiation shown (equations)
4 He
2
How is beta radiation show (equations)
0 e
-1
How to measure radiation
Geiger-Muller tube
What is a half-life
The amount of time it takes for the amount of radiation from a source
Sources of background radiation
Air
Food
Building supplies
Cosmic rays
Nuclear waste
Rocks
What is irradiation
Exposed to radiation but do not become radioactive
What is contamination
When an object is exposed to radiation and becomes radioactive
Risks of using radiation
Tissue damage to organisms
Mutant cells which divide uncontrollably (cancer)
Radiation sickness (killed cells)
Uses of gamma rays
‘Radioactive isotopes can be injected into people (or swallowed) and their progress around the body can be followed by an external detector
What is radiotherapy
Gamma rays are directed onto cancerous cells and can kill the cells
