Particles

Particles

1. Structures

   • Electrons
   • Neutrons (Except Hydrogen)
     • 1 Up-Quark
     • 2 Down-Quarks
   • Protons and Neutrons are made of 2 types of quarks
     • Up-quark
       • Mass of 1/3
       • Charge of +2/3
     • Down-quark
       • Mass of 1/3
       • Charge of -1/3
   • Positron
     • The antiparticle of an electron
       • Same mass but opposite charge
   • Protons
     • 1 Down-Quark
     • 2 Up-Quarks

2. 3 types of ionising radiation

   • Alpha
     • Happens in heavy nuclei (E.g those with more than 82 protons)
       • Helium nucleus is released
         • Atomic number decreases by 2
         • Mass number decreases by 4
     • Slow and heavy
     • Strongly ionising
     • Stopped by paper
   • Beta
     • Beta +
       • Happens when there are too few neutrons
         • Proton turns into Neutron
           • Up quark turns into down quark
           • A positron is emmited
           • Atomic number decreases by one
     • Beta -
       • Happens when there are too many neutrons
         • Neutron turns into Proton and Electron
           • Down quark turns into up quark
           • Electron is emitted
           • Atomic Number increases by one
     • Light and fast
     • Moderately ionising
     • Stopped by thin lead
   • Gamma
     • Always happens after Alpha/Beta emission
       • Due to the fact the nucleus has too much energy
         • Loses energy by emmiting gamma radiation
           • Atomic/Mass number is not affected
     • No mass very quick
     • Weakly ionising

3. Neutron Radiation

   • Neutron is ejected
     • Is absorbed by nucleus of other atoms
       • Causes nucleus to become unstable
         • Indirectly ionising

4. The Stability Curve

   • Some isotopes will remain stable
   • Others will become unstable
     • Thus causing them to decay
       • The type of radiation is show in the stability graph