Terms (2)

Question 1

Parent

Answer 1

The original element in a nuclear reaction

Question 2

Daughter

Answer 2

The element produced as a product of a nuclear reaction

Question 3

Recoil of the Daughter

Answer 3

When the Daughter releases photons, (Radiation) decreasing the atoms energy (Radioactive Decay)

Question 4

Particulate Radiation

Answer 4

A stream of atomic or subatomic particles that have mass, can be charged or not (alpha +, Beta -, Neutron)

Question 5

Electromagnetic Radiation

Answer 5

Photons of energy with no mass and no charge (neutrons)

Question 6

Alpha Particle (α)

Answer 6

• Two protons, Two neutrons (positive charge)
• Atomic mass of 1, total mass is 4
• slowest of ionizing radiation
• 4-9MeV
• Low penetration
• 5% speed of light

Question 7

Beta Particle (β)

Answer 7

• same mass as an electron
• Negative charge
• 99.95% speed of light
• energy ranges from 0-maximum
• losses energy from collision with electrons

Question 8

Neutron (n)

Answer 8

• high-energy
• released during Fission
• lost during Spontaneous Fission decay
• no charge
• absorbed by graphite or water

Question 9

Neutrino (nu)

Answer 9

• no charge
• almost no mass
• interacts weakly
• created from the process of particle decay

Question 10

Gamma Radiation (y)

Answer 10

Electromagnetic Radiation emitted from the Daughter after decay to rearrange and bring down high-energy (excited state)
- speed of light
- travels in straight line
- high penetration
energy of the Gamma Ray is the difference between energy before and after decay

Question 11

Excited State

Answer 11

The state of a Daughter after radioactive decay, high-energy, wanting to rearrange to lower energy level

Question 12

Half-lives

Answer 12

The time required for half of a specific isotopes atoms to decay
- Activity as it relates to time

Question 13

Energy

Answer 13

Energy of radiations (Particulate and Electromagnetic) is based on energy released during decay

• More energy more penetration, more danger, more required shielding
• Expressed as KeV and MeV
• Energy does not change with activity, time or size

Question 14

Characteristic Intensity

Answer 14

Measure of ionization of air

• dependant on decay process
• per hour per distance from source
• R/h, Ci/h, Bq/h, mSv/h/GigaBq

Question 15

Shielding

Answer 15

Higher energy more shielding required.

Question 16

Tenth-Value Layer

Answer 16

The amount of an absorbing material required to shield a radioactive material/reduce dose rate to 1/10 the original value