topic 6 radioactivity Flashcards
(32 cards)
what is radioactive decay
emitting ionizing radiation so radiation randomly so they can be stable
what are the 4 are the types of nuclear radiation
beat particle , alpha particles , neutrons and gamma rays
from most ionizing to least ionizing d o the nuclear radiation
alpha-beat-gamma
from most penetrating to least penatrating nuclear radiation
gamma-beta-alpha
what is the charge of a alpha particle
2 plus
what is an alpha particle consisted of
2 neutrons and 2 protons no electrons
what can an alpha particle be absorbed by
paper as it can’t be penetrated far
what is the charge of on a beta particle
-1
how to beta minus particles decay
they decay and form a proton and electron . the electron is emitted oout while the proton stays in the nucleus
what is a beta particle stopped by
aluminum
what is the mass of a gamma particle
it has no mass so it can pass straight through materials and not collide with any of the atoms
what is the charge on a gamma particle
no charge so it can pass straight through materials and not collide with any of the atoms
why can’t alpha particles pent rate very far
as they aremlarge molecules they can be easily stopped
what does ion sing mean
eaily knock electrons off the atoms they collide with
what are gamma rays
waves of electromagnetic radiation
what is the emission of a neutron
if a nucleus contains to many neutrons it would just through out a neutron to make it stable
what is beta plus decay
the proton forms a neutron and a positron and then the positron is ejected and kicked out of the Nucleus
name three ways of detecting radioactivity
photographic film and a Geiger counter , and a cloud chamber
how do you detect radiation using a photographic film
a bright spot will appear when ionizing radiation hits the film
how do you detect radiation using a Geiger counter
Cloud chamber
ionsing radiation enters the tube full of low pressure gases . it ionizes the atom in the gas knocking out the electrons and the gas can conduct electricity and completes a circuit . current flows between the electrodes and it produces a clicking noise and the count rates is the number of decays recorded every second
how do you use a lcoud chaamber to detect radiation
the cloud chamber has alcohol vapour the ionising raidation leaves and then enters the chamber and leaves behind its air and then the alcohol vapour condenses on the raidaiated air causing there to be trail of radiation
two ways nuclear fission can happen
by either happening spontaneously*rare) or by splitting up a neutron
what is the firrst stage of nuclear fission
start of with a large and unstable nuclei and we fire a relatively slow moving neutron at it.
why does fring a nuetron at a unstable nuclei causises to be
less stable
