Radiation (Assessment Specific)

Question 1

Describe the structure of an atom

Answer 1

Positively charged nucleus with neutrons and protons. Outer shell, with electrons.

Question 2

What is the size of a nucleus compared to an atom?

Answer 2

Nucleus is tiny compared to the whole atom.

Question 3

Where is most of the mass in an atom?

Answer 3

In the nucleus

Question 4

What are the size of small molecules when compared to an atom?

Answer 4

Small molecules are bigger than an atom

Question 5

What is an isotope?

Answer 5

The Same atom, with a different number of neutrons

Question 6

13
C
6

What do all these pieces mean?

Answer 6

13 = Neutrons + Protons = mass number
6 = Protons, usually electrons = atomic number

Question 7

What can the atomic number be used to tell us?

Answer 7

What element it is.

Question 8

What’s an easy way to tell which ones the atomic number?

Answer 8

The atomic number will always be smaller than the mass number

Question 9

What differs between an isotope and the atom on the periodic table?

Answer 9

Isotopes have a different mass number

Question 10

What is the charge and relative mass of a proton?

Answer 10

Charge + 1

Relative mass 1

Question 11

What is the charge and relative mass of a neutron?

Answer 11

Charge 0

Relative mass 1

Question 12

What is the charge and relative mass of a electron?

Answer 12

Charge -1

Relative mass 0

Question 13

What is the charge and relative mass of a positron?

Answer 13

Charge +1

Relative mass 0

Question 14

What is a positron?

Answer 14

Exactly the same as an electron but with a positive charge

Question 15

What does it mean for an atom to be a neutral atom?

Answer 15

Number of protons = number of electrons

Question 16

What does it mean for an atom to have a stable nuclei?

Answer 16

Balance of protons and neutrons is correct: same as atom on periodic table

Question 17

How do electrons orbit the nucleus is an atom?

Answer 17

At different distances, first shell is different distances from nucleus in different atoms

Question 18

What happens if you give energy to an electron?

Answer 18

It moves up one or several shells. If it gains enough, the electron will leave the atom and the atom will be a positive ion.

Question 19

What happens if you take energy away from an electron?

Answer 19

It moves down a shell or several and emits visible light, with amount of energy dictating light colour

Question 20

What is nuclear radiation?

Answer 20

Radiation from the nucleus

Question 21

What is the symbol for alpha radiation? What is the structure of an atom emitting alpha radiation?

Answer 21

a, 2protons + 2neutrons

Question 22

What is the symbol for beta minus radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release beta minus radiation?

Answer 22

ß-, electron emitted when a neutron turns into a proton

Question 23

What is the symbol for beta plus radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release beta plus radiation?

Answer 23

ß+, proton turns into a neutron and emits a positron

Question 24

What is the symbol for gamma radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release gamma radiation?

Answer 24

γ, nuclei rearrange themselves sad emit a wave of energy

Question 25

What is the symbol for neutron radiation? What happens to an atom to cause it to release neutron radiation?

Answer 25

n, a neutron is emitted

Question 26

What does all nuclear radiation do?

Answer 26

Ionises

Question 27

What is background radiation?

Answer 27

The natural occurrence of radiation, present all the time

Question 28

What is Radon gas produced by?

Answer 28

Uranium in rock decays, producing Radon gas

Question 29

What are three sources of Background Radiation?

Answer 29

Cosmic, buildings, food, medical, nuclear power station

Question 30

What two things are used to measure radioactivity?

Answer 30

Photographic film and Geiger counter

Question 31

How does a Geiger counter detect radiation?

Answer 31

Inside a Geiger counter is an easily ionised gas. When gas is ionised, electrons flow. Each time the electron completes the circuit, the Geiger counter counts.

Question 32

What is flow of electrons called?

Answer 32

Current

Question 33

What is the penetration and ionisation of alpha radiation?

Answer 33

Penetration= 3cm through air, stopped by paper | Ionisation: highly ionising, steals 2 electrons

Question 34

What is the penetration and ionisation of beta radiation?

Answer 34

Penetration: 2-4meters in air, stopped by thin aluminium or thick card Ionisation: moderate

Question 35

What is the penetration and ionisation of gamma radiation?

Answer 35

Penetration; Kilometers in air, stopped by thick lead and concrete Ionisation; very low

Question 36

What is ionisation?

Answer 36

Ability to take an electron from another atom

Question 37

What does a billiard ball model represent an atom as?

Answer 37

Solid mass

Question 38

What does a plum pudding model represent an atom as?

Answer 38

Solid with positive bits in a sea of negative

Question 39

What does a Rutherford model represent an atom as?

Answer 39

Empty space with tiny positive nucleus and electrons around the outside

Question 40

What does a bohrs model represent an atom as?

Answer 40

Electrons in shells around a nucleus containing neutrons and protons

Question 41

Gamma radiation ionises a atom. What is the effect on the mass number and atomic number?

Answer 41

Everything stays the same, there's no change

Question 42

Alpha radiation particle of 4 a 2 ionises a atom of 14 C 6 What will it produce?

Answer 42

10 Be 4 + 4 He 2

Question 43

Beta minus radiation particle of 0 Bminus -1 ionises a atom of 14 C 6 What will it produce?

Answer 43

14 N 1 + 0 B -1

Question 44

Beta plus radiation particle of 0 BPlus 1 ionises a atom of 14 C 6 What will it produce?

Answer 44

14 B 5 + 0 B 1

Question 45

Neutron radiation ionises a atom of 14 C 6 What will it produce?

Answer 45

13 C 6 + 1 N 0

Question 46

After emitting alpha beta or neutron radiation, what may also be emitted?

Answer 46

Gamma

Question 47

What happens to rate of decay over time?

Answer 47

As time goes on, activity decreases at a decreasing rate (rate it's decreasing at gets slower

Question 48

What will a half life graph look like?

Answer 48

It has a gentle curve of best fit

Question 49

What is radioactive activity measured in?

Answer 49

Becquerel | Bq

Question 50

What are the two ways to find half life on a graph?

Answer 50

Half the number of where the curve meets the y axis. Get to that number on y axis, then draw out till you meet curve. Then go down from that point, and where it lands is the half life. Choose a number on y axis, draw out till meet curve then draw down to a point. Half the number on y axis, then draw out till meet curve then draw down to a point. Take away the smallest point number from the biggest, answer is half life.

Question 51

On a half life graph, what is the y axis?

Answer 51

Activity

Question 52

On a half life graph, what is the x axis?

Answer 52

Time

Question 53

What is half life?

Answer 53

Time taken for the activity of a radioactive substance to decrease by half

Question 54

Why is half life useful?

Answer 54

Gives us some idea of how much of the substance will be active after a period of time

Question 55

The half life of carbon -14 is 5700 years. How long would it take for only 1/16th of the carbon to remain

Answer 55

``` 1 1/2 ) 1/4 ) 1/8 ). 4 half lives 1/16 ) ``` 4 x 5700 = 22,800 years

Question 56

Einsteinium can be produced after a nuclear bomb has been detonated. It decays to berkelium, with a half life of 20 days. How long will it take for the ratio between berkelium and einsteinium to reach 1:7

Answer 56

``` E > B 8:0 )- (Start at 8 because 7 + 1 = 8) 4:4 ) 2:6 ). 3 half life 1:7 ``` 3 x 20 = 60days

Question 57

What are the dangers of being exposed to radiation?

Answer 57

Radiation burns, cancer and death

Question 58

What are three precautions taken to ensure safety of people exposed to radiation?

Answer 58

Handle source with tongs, keep source in lead lined containers, do not point source at self or others, always wear gloves, wear eye protection

Question 59

What is irradiation?

Answer 59

When someone is exposed to radiation from a nearby source

Question 60

What is contamination?

Answer 60

When someone gets particles of a radiation source in their body

Question 61

How do you stop irradiation?

Answer 61

Moving away from the source

Question 62

How do you stop contamination?

Answer 62

Stops when source is finished decaying

Question 63

Would gamma be more dangerous irradiating or contaminating? Why?

Answer 63

Irradiating as it travels long distances, contamination would move away before ionising

Question 64

Would gamma be more dangerous irradiating or contaminating? Why?

Answer 64

Contaminating, it will ionise inside your body causing cancer or mutations