Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Physics - GCSE > Radiation > Flashcards

Radiation Flashcards

(73 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is an isotope?

A

Atom, same atomic number (protons +electrons)but different mass number (neutrons)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is deuterium?

A

An isotope of hydrogen that is heavier (has more neutrons) than hydrogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the charge of a proton?

A

+1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the charge of a neutron?

A

0

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the charge of a electron?

A

-1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the charge of a nucleus?

A

+

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the mass of a proton?

A

1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the mass of a neutron?

A

1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the mass of a electron?

A

0

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the location of a proton?

A

Nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the location of a neutron?

A

Nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the location of a electron?

A

Shell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the location of a nucleus?

A

Centre of the atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a Nucleon?

A

A proton or neutron. It can be the same as the mass number.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

35
Cl
17

What does the 35 mean?

A

Mass number,number of protons + neutrons ,nucleon number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

35
Cl
17

What does the Cl mean?

A

Chlorine, symbol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

35
Cl
17

What does the 17 mean?

A

Atomic number, proton number,

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is

37
X
17

A

An isotope of chlorine

The atomic number dictates the element

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

In atoms, what dictates the element?

A

Atomic number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

If the mass number of something changes, what does it become?

A

An isotope

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is relative atomic mass?

A

A weighted mean mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

35.5
Cl
17

What does the 35.5 mean?

A

Relative atomic mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the equation for working our relative atomic mass of two isotopes of:

75pervent 35
Cl
17

25percent 3537
Cl
17

A

100
=35.5
((25 = atoms and 37 = mass))

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What happens to an isotope that’s very unstable?

A

It will emit radiation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is an ion?
An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons
26
What happens to electrons when an atom becomes a positive ion by absorbing energy?
The electron moves all the way out and becomes free to move
27
What's the symbol for alpha radiation?
a
28
What's the symbol for beta minus radiation?
ß-
29
What's the symbol for gamma radiation?
Curvy Y
30
What is nuclear radiation emitted from?
Emitted from the nucleus of the atom.
31
Why is nuclear radiation dangerous?
Because it is ionising, and so can then normal atoms into ions
32
What does neutron radiation emit?
Neutrons
33
What does beta+ radiation emit?
Anti electrons / positrons
34
What can a nucleus be?
Stable or unstable
35
What happens if a nucleus is unstable?
It tried to become mor stables, by ejecting mass of energy
36
What is the process of ejecting radiation called?
Decay
37
How is a sample of a radioactive isotope measured?
How much radioactive decay happens over a period of time
38
What is how much radioactive decay happens over a period of time measured in?
Bacquerels Bq
39
What happens in neutron decay?
When a nucleus emirs a neutron the mass number will GET smaller
40
What happens in alpha decay?
A large nucleus rejects a whole alpha particle
41
What happens in beta minus decay?
Neutron inside nucleus changes into proton and electron, and kicks electron out. Atom changes from one element to another.
42
What happens to the atomic and mass number in alpha decay?
atomic number will reduce by 2 and mass number by 4 | Mass number nothing
43
What happens or atomic and mass number In beta minus decay?
Atomic number increase by 1 | Mass number nothing
44
What happens in gamma decay?
Atoms decay and the protons and neutrons in nucleus rearrange themselves, releasing gamma energy
45
What is it called when Atoms decay and the protons and neutrons in nucleus rearrange themselves?
Nuclear rearrangement
46
What are the eight main ways to detect things we cannot see?
``` Taste Smell Touch Hearing Infrared Sensor Geiger counter Thermometer ```
47
What is background radiation?
Naturally occurring radiation that is present at all times
48
What can we use to measure radiation?
A Geiger counter
49
How does a Geiger counter work?
It detects when the gas inside the chamber is ionised by radiation
50
What was used before the Geiger counter to detect radiation? How did it work?
Photographic film - radiation turned it dark
51
What is background count?
Average reading of background radiation in a particular area at a particular time
52
What is activity? (In radiation
When a nucleus decays.
53
How many items can a nucleus decay?
Once. Once it has emitted radiation, it's finished
54
Can or can't we predict when decay is going to happen?
Can't. It is entirely random.
55
Can or can't you speed up the decay process? (In radiation
There are ways, but as far as we are concerned we can't.
56
Can or can't you predict when a radioactive sample is going to be safe? How?
Yes, using its half life
57
If you loved 100 years what would your half life be?
50
58
What is half life? (In radiation
Time taken for the activity of a substance to reduce by half
59
What is activity? What do we measure it in? (In radiation
When a nuclei is decaying and as such is emitting radiation. In counts per second
60
What does external alpha radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
It can only travel a few cm, so not very dangerous. We can move away.
61
What does internal alpha radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
Will ionise body cells causing cancer/mutations, very dangerous, literally nothing
62
What does external gamma radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
Travels onto your body, pretty dangerous, nothing as it travels so far
63
What does internal alpha radiation do? How dangerous is it? How can we reduce risk?
Nothing much as will move out of body before ionising, not very dangerous, by doing nothing
64
What is alpha radiation used to treat?
Surface skin cancer
65
What is gamma radiation used to treat?
Tumours
66
How does an atom become an ion?
When an electron in an atom is hit by X-ray/gamma ray, it escapes as radiation, allowing the atom to become the ion
67
What can ionising in DNA do?
Cause mutations, leading to cell damage and death (radiation sickness, burns) and cancer
68
How do alpha and beta ionise atoms?
Alpha attracts electrons, beta repels it
69
What are the five ways to stay safe when handling radiation radioactive materials?
``` Handle source with tongs Keep source in lead lined containers do not point sources at self or others Always wear gloves Always wear eye protection ```
70
What is irradiation?
When someone is exposed to radiation from a nearby source
71
What is contamination
When someone gets particles off a radioactive source on their person or inside their body
72
How can irradiation be prevented?
By simply moving away
73
How can contamination be prevented?
Stops when the source finishes decaying

Physics - GCSE (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions