Radioactivity

Question 1

the nuclei in most atoms are said to be…

Answer 1

stable

Question 2

in some atoms the protons and neutrons are…

and these nucleis are…

Answer 2

not held togther

unstable

Question 3

what are radioisotopes?

Answer 3

isotopes that are unstable decay which form elements and are said to be radioactive

Question 4

how are artifically made isotopes made?

Answer 4

by bombarding their atoms with protons or neutrons

Question 5

what is nucleus radation?

Answer 5

energy emitted by radioactive subtances

Question 6

what are the three types of radation?

Answer 6

alpha particles
beta particles
gamma rays

Question 7

what are alpha particles?

Answer 7

helium nuclei that contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons

Question 8

what is the charge of alpha particles?

Answer 8

positive

Question 9

what is the symbol for alpha particles?

Answer 9

a

Question 10

what are some of the properties of alpha particles?

Answer 10

they cannot travel easily through materials

they can be stopped by paper or skin

can cause serious damage if inhaled , eaten or injected

Question 11

what is the symbol for beta particles?

Answer 11

β

Question 12

what are beta particles the same size and mass of?

Answer 12

electrons

Question 13

what charge are beta particles?

Answer 13

positive or negative

Question 14

what is a negative charge particles called?

Answer 14

negatron

Question 15

what is a positive charge particles called?

Answer 15

positron

Question 16

how fast can beta particles travel?

Answer 16

99% speed of light

Question 17

what are some properties of beta particles?

Answer 17

can penetrate human skin and damage living tissue

cannot penetrate think layers of plastic, wood or aluminium

Question 18

what are gamma rays not?

Answer 18

not particles

Question 19

what are gamma rays?

Answer 19

bursts of energy that are realsed after alpha or beta particles are emitted

Question 20

what speed do they travel?

Answer 20

speed of light

Question 21

what is the symbol of gamma rays?

Answer 21

γ

Question 22

gamma rays cannot be stopped by…

Answer 22

thick sheild of lead or concrete

Question 23

what is a property or gamma rays?

Answer 23

cause serious and permant damage to living tissue

Question 24

order of ionising power?

Answer 24

alpha, beta and gamma

Question 25

order of high pentarting power?

Answer 25

gamma, beta and alpha

Question 26

what is the process of radioactive decay?

Answer 26

when the ratio of neutrons to protons become too high and the nucleus is unstable and decays or changes into another isotope

Question 27

radioactive decay is a...

Answer 27

random process

Question 28

what is half life?

Answer 28

is the time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay

Question 29

what is half life equivalent too?

Answer 29

the time taken for the radioactivty to drop half of what it was

Question 30

what is cosmic radiation?

Answer 30

a smaller amount that comes from outer space in a form of high energy protons emitted by stars