radioactivity

Question 1

half life

Answer 1

the time taken for the activity of a sample of aa radionuclide to decrease by half

Question 2

activity

Answer 2

the number of nuclear transformations which occur in that quantity per unit time

Question 3

decay constant

Answer 3

a measure of the rate at which the isotope releases radioactive emissions

Question 4

what is the SI unit of radioactivity

Answer 4

becquerel (Bq)

Question 5

penetrating power of alpha

Answer 5

will only travel a few centimeters in air and can be stopped by something as thin as a sheet of paper. Due to its attenuation, we don’t use it clinically

Question 6

penetrating power of beta

Answer 6

can be stopped by a thin aluminium sheet

Question 7

penetrating power of gamma

Answer 7

need a several inches of lead or other high Z number material to stop it.

Question 8

alpha decay

Answer 8

• An alpha nucleus is comprised of 2 protons and 2 neutrons

- The loss of an alpha particle results in the decrease in atomic number by 2 and Z number by 4