Nuclear Radiation

Nuclear Radiation

1. Two other forms of radiation

   • Terrestrial
     • Atoms from when the earth was formed.
   • Cosmic
     • Atoms from space.

2. Radiation from the nucleus of an atom

   • Atoms
     • Made up of...
       • Electrons
         • Negatively charged.
       • Neutrons
         • No charge.
       • Protons
         • Positively charged.
     • Isotopes
       • Have extra neutrons.
     • Written in form...
       • A                           - Mass Number      X                      - Atom Symbol Z                           - Atomic Number
     • Unstable Atoms
       • Have outer shells which aren't full.

3. Naturally occurring radiation

   • Alpha (α)
     • Slow Moving.
     • 2 Protons, 2 Neutrons.
     • An unstable nucleus ejects an α particle.
       • This means the nucleus loses 2 n+- and 2 p+.
         • e.g. uranium-238 --> thorium-234 + 4/2 helium + energy
   • Gamma (γ)
   • Beta (β)
     • Fast Moving.
     • Two Types
       • β+
         • Only produced in laboratories.
       • β-
         • The common of the two.
     • Enter text here
   • Decay
     • Emissions from unstable isotopes.
     • Performed to become more stable.
     • Atoms decay into a daughter nucleus.
       • More stable than original nucleus.