Physics

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Radiation and Space

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An atom contains a nucleus surrounded by electron rings (shells). Most of the space in an atom is the gaps between shells, HOWEVER most of the mass is in the nucleus (containing protons and neutrons). Protons are positively charged Neutrons are neutrally charged
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Atom Arrangement

Electrons are negatively charged

Isotopes
An isotope of an element is a different type of the same element but with a different amount of neutrons. ISOTOPE= DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF NEUTRONS

Protons determine the element Neutrons

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NOT PROTONS

Radiation

When an unstable isotopes nucleus breaks down (decays), it emits radiation. Each nucleus decays at random and there is nothing you can do to make a decay happen. Each decay happens in its own good time and is completely unaffected by physical conditions ( e.g. 7/7/12 temperature, chemical bonding)

When the nucleus decays, it spits out one or more of the three types of radiation:

In the process, the nucleus often 7/7/12 changes into a new element

Ionisation
Nuclear radiation causes ionisation by bashing into atoms and knocking electrons off them. Atoms with no overall charge are turned into ions (which are chargedtherefore the term used is ionisation.

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Alpha
-Big, heavy and slow-moving Dont penetrate far into materials Because of their size they bash into a lot of atoms and knock electrons off them, which creates a lot of ions . They are positively charged and because of this, they are deflected (direction changes ) by electric and magnetic fields.

Beta
-

Is an electron which has been emitted from the nucleus of an atom when a neutron turns into a proton and an electron Move quite fast and are quite small Penetrate moderately before colliding and are moderately ionising too They are negatively charged and because of this, they are deflected by electric and magnetic fields.

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Gamma
-

Are part of the electromagnetic spectrum like light and radio waves They are the opposite of alpha particles (have no mass) and are just energy They penetrate a long way into materials without being stopped Therefore they are weakly ionising because they tend to pass through rather than collide with atoms, but will eventually hit something and do damage. Have no charge so theyre not deflected by electric Gamma rays are RAYS not particles or magnetic fields. like Alpha and Beta
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Background Radiation

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Exposure to Background Radiation

There is increased BR (Background Radiation) in:

Planes as there is more exposure to cosmic rays which come from space Underground in mines- because of all the rocks around Certain underground rocks- e.g. granite, can cause higher BR levels 7/7/12

Radon Gas
High doses of radon gas can cause health problems like lung cancer --- The greater the radon concentration, the higher the risk The radon concentration in peoples houses varies, depending on what type of rock the house is built on
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How radon gas enters the house

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How to deal with radon gas

The key way to reduce radon concentration is by using ventilation systems. These reduce the concentration of radon in the living space

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Half-Life
HALF-LIFE is the TIME TAKEN for HALF of the NUCLEI present to DECAY
Each time a decay happens and an alpha, beta or gamma is given out, it means one more radioactive nucleus has disappeared. As time goes on in a radioactive material, activity will decrease and therefore the older a sample becomes, the less radiation it will emit. A short half-life means the activity falls quickly, because lots of the nuclei decay quickly A long half-life means the activity falls more slowly because most of the nuclei dont decay for a long time, they just sit there, basically unstable, but kind of biding their time. 7/7/12

Do half-life questions step by step

For example: The activity of a radioisotope is 640 cpm (counts per minute). Two hours later it has fallen to 40 cpm. Find the half life of the sample
Initial three after one after four after two after

This tells us that it takes four half-lives for the activity to fall from 640 to 40. Count Hence two hours represents four half-lives, so you do 120 (2) half-life (2) half-lives (2) half-lives minutes (2 (2) you find hours) divided to what thenumber is is 30 minutes took) half-lives the answer by 4 (the half-life of half-lives it 7/7/12 and that

You can measure the half-life of a radioactive substance using a G-M tube and counter. Always remember that in a graph, to subtract the BR off the sample results first before you ploy your results. Half-lives always make curved graphs.

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Dangers from Nuclear Radiation

The way radiation damages your body is that when it enters your body, it collides with molecules in your cells. These collisions cause ionisation, which damages or destroys the molecules.

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Lower doses cause minor damage without killing the cell. This can give rise to mutant cells which divide uncontrollablythis is cancer Higher doses tend to kill cells, causing radiation sickness if a large part of your body is affected atcells = cell time the same Nuclear radiation + living
damage, cell death or cancer
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Beta and Gamma radiation can penertrate the skin and soft tissues and reach organs inside the body. This makes beta and gamma sources more hazardous than alpha when outside the body. Alpha radiation cant penetrate the skin, but if it gets in your body (say by swalling or breathing it in) alpha sources do all their damage in a very localised area. Beta and gamma sources are less dangerous inside the body- their radiation

--Alpha is worse internally --Beta and gamma are worse 7/7/12 externally

Uses of Nuclear Radiation

Alpha
1)

Smoke detectors. The radiation ionises the air and a current flows between the electrodes in the detector. If there is a fire, the smoke absorbs the radiation the current stops and the alarm sounds.

2)

3)

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Beta
1)

Can be used as a tracer person gets injected or swallowed then a picture of the internal structure of the body can be created by using external detectors. (medical purposes) All isotopes which are taken into the body must be BETA OR GAMMA emitters (never alpha)

1)

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