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Physics (My deck) > Topic 6) Radioactive decay > Flashcards

Topic 6) Radioactive decay Flashcards

(52 cards)

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1
Q

what is the ionising radiation that we are exposed to?

A

background radiation

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2
Q

what is the biggest source of background radiation?

A

uranium

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3
Q

where is uranium produced?

A

magnesium rocks

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4
Q

what is the background radiation that comes from space called?

A

cosmic radiation

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5
Q

what is reason an atom’s nucleus is stable?

A

only if it has a full outer shell

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6
Q

what happens if a nucleus has too many, or too few neutrons?

A

becomes unstable and will decay, and emit radiation

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7
Q

what are the different types of radiation?

A

alpha
beta
gamma ray

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8
Q

what is the relative mass of alpha particles?

A

4

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9
Q

what is the charge of a beta particle?

A

-1

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10
Q

what is the particle that has no mass or charge?

A

alpha particle

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11
Q

what has a high frequency?

A

gamma ray

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12
Q

what is a type of electromagnetic radiation?

A

gamma ray

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13
Q

which particle has an electron from the nucleus?

A

beta

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14
Q

what is the charge of a gamma ray?

A

+2

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15
Q

what happens during beta emission?

A

A neutron turns into a proton and creates an electron

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16
Q

What happens during positron emission?

A

A proton turns into a neutron and a positron is created

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17
Q

What happens during neutron emission?

A

A neutron is lost from the nucleus

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18
Q

What 3 isotopes can hydrogen exist in?

A

Protium
Deuterium
Tritium

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19
Q

What can gamma particles be stopped by?

A

A few centimetres of lead or concrete

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20
Q

What can stop beta particles?

A

Aluminium

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21
Q

how can radiation be used to setrilise food?

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A

kills cells, so it’ll kill all microbes on the food

22
Q

what is the symbol for electric charge?

23
Q

what is charge measured in?

24
Q

what is charge carried by in an electric circuit?

Study These Flashcards
A

free,or de-localised electrons

25
What do alpha particles contain?
Contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons
26
what levels of energy do beta particles have?
high energy
27
what levels of speed of beta particles have?
high speed
28
what is the relative mass of beta particles?
1/1835
29
what are gamma-rays?
they are high-frequency electromagnetic waves
30
what do gamma waves travel like?
gamma rays travel at the speed of light
31
what is the electric charge of gamma rays?
they do not have a electric charge
32
what are the characteristics of alpha particles?
will travel a few centimetres in air very ionising can be stopped by a sheet of paper
33
what are the characteristics of beta particles?
will travel a few metres in air moderately ionising can be stopped by a 3 mm thin aluminium
34
what are the characteristics of gamma rays?
will travel a few kilometres in air weakly ionising need thick lead or several metres of concrete to stop them
35
what materials stop alpha particles?
paper
36
what materials stop beta particles?
aluminium 3 mm thick
37
what materials stop gamma rays?
lead few cm thick or several metres of concrete
38
what is used to measure radiation?
A Geiger Counter
39
what is the pressure in the Geiger counter?
low pressure gas
40
what nucleus is an alpha particle?
a helium nucleus
41
what type of electron is a beta particle?
a high speed electron
42
what is the ionising power of an alpha particle?
high
43
what is ionising power of a beta particle?
low
44
what is the ionising power of a gamma particle?
very low
45
what can detect radioactive decay?
photographic film
46
what can be predicted about radioactive decay?
the number of nuclei that will decay
47
what is half life?
the time taken for half of the unstable nuclei in a sample to decay, or for the activity of the sample to halve or for the count rate to halve
48
what is the geiger-muller tube?
a device that detects radiation
49
how does a geiger-muller tube work?
it gives an electrical signal each time radiation detected these signals can be converted into clicking sounds, giving a count rate in clicks per seconds or per minute
50
what is radioactive substance measured in?
becquerel (Bq)
51
what does alpha decay do?
changes the mass number of the element by minus four and the atomic number by minus two
52
what does beta decay do?
changes the atomic number by plus one but the mass number remains unchanged

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