Flashcards
P6 - Radioactive Materials
Cards in this deck (35)
- 1Beta DecayNuclei that have too many neutrons.
A neutron turns into a proton, causing the element to change. A beta particle is emitted (same as an electron) - 2Alpha DecayReleased by very heavy nuclei e.g. uranium. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus (2 protons/ 2 neutrons) so changes the element when it is emitted.
- 3Most to least ionising?Alpha
Beta
Gamma - 4Most to least penetrating?Gamma
Beta
Alpha - 5Stopped by led, emitted as a ray/ wave, doesn't change the element?Gamma radiation
- 6Stopped by paper, slow moving, changes the elementAlpha radiation
- 7Stopped by thin metal, moves quickly, changes the elementBeta radiation
- 8Half LifeThe time it takes for half of the atom to decay
- 9Is the number of neutrons in a element fixed?No
- 10What is an Isotope?Atoms with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.
E.g. Carbon 12 (6 of each)
Carbon 14 ( 6 protons/ 8 neutrons) - 11Describe Rutherford's experimentFired alpha particles at thin gold foil
- 12What did they see?Most alpha particles went straight through, but the odd particle bounced straight back
- 13What did this show?Most mass was concentrated in a small nucleus with lost of empty space around it as most went straight through the foil.
The nucleus had a positive charge as the positively charges alpha particles were repelled. if it wasn't, they wouldn't have been repelled or scattered. - 14What is the 'strong force'?The force that holds the nucleus together - stronger than the repulsive electrostatic force between the protons.
- 15What is Nuclear Fusion?Two nuclei that combine to form a heavier and larger nucleus, emitting energy. This requires a lot of energy to get them close enough for the strong force to hold them together.
- 16Where can nuclear fusion be found naturally?In the sun where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium atoms, releasing lots of energy as heat and light.
- 17What is E = MC^2?Created by Einstein.
E= energy
M = mass
C = speed of light in a vacuum
Can calculate the release of energy during nuclear fission or fusion. - 18What is nuclear Fission?The splitting apart of larger nuclei to make small ones. It releases 2 or three more neutrons and lots of energy.
- 19How does nuclear fission work?A chain reaction is set up. A neutron splits a nucleus which releases more neutrons. These neutrons then continue to split up more nuclei to release more neutrons.
- 20What is used for nuclear fission?Uranium or plutonium fuel rods.
- 21How is nuclear fission controlled?Control rods are used to absorb some of the neutrons to slow down the reaction. They can be moved in and out to absorb more or less.
- 22What's done with 'low level' waste?Buried in secure landfill sites.
- 23What is 'low level' waste?Most waste from power stations (or medical use ); things like paper and gloves
- 24What is 'intermediate level' waste?Quite radioactive and will stay that way for tens of thousands of years. Things like metal cases of fuel rods and some waste from hospitals.
- 25What is done with 'intermediate level' waste?Sealed in concrete blocks and put into steel canisters for storage.
- 26What is 'high level' waste?From nuclear power stations and so reactive that it generates a lot of heat.
- 27What is done with 'high level' waste?Sealed in gas and steel then cooled for 50 years before being moved to permanent storage.
- 28IrradiationBeing exposed to radiation without coming in contact with the source.
- 29ContaminationPicking up radioactive material, e.g. breathing it in or getting it on your skin
- 30What can ionising radiation do to cells?It can cause mutations that can cause cancer.
High doses can kill cells, causing radiation sickness. - 31What is radiation measured in?Sieverts (Sv) or Millisieverts (mSv)
- 32What is background radiation?Low level radiation that is around all the time.
- 33What causes background radiation?Natural radioactive elements
Space
Human activity - 34When are radioactive elements considered safe?When the radiation they emit is the same level as background radiation.
- 35What can ionising radiation be used for?Treating cancer
Sterilising medical equipment
Sterilising food
Detecting disease using trackers
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- GCSE Physics Flashcards on P6 - Radioactive Materials, created by Alice Hathaway on 31/03/2016.
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- Alice Hathaway
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