AQA Physics Unit 1 - Radioactivity

Radioactivty

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  • Created by: PhilMoze
  • Created on: 15-01-11 22:51

Radiation

SUBSTANCES WHICH GIVE OUT RADIATION ARE RADIOACTIVE

                                    (http://library.thinkquest.org/28383/grafika/1/aalfa-beta-gamma-2.gif)

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Isotopes

SAME PROTONS

DIFFERENT NEUTRONS

= ISOTOPES

(http://www.atomicarchive.com/Physics/Images/isotopes.jpg)

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Atomic Structure

                                (http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/chemistry/generalchemistry/atomic/BasicStructure/atmparts.gif)

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Alpha

A HELIUM NUCLEUS (2 PRO's 2 NEU's)

STRONG IONISING POWER (because it's POSTIVE)

Stopped By:

Paper

USES: 

SMOKE ALARMS (Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep!)

DANGERS:

Over use = cancer

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Beta

AN ELECTRON

Ionising power

Stopped By 

3-5mm Aluminium 

USES: 

Thickness Control

DANGERS:

Over use = cancer

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Gamma

AN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE

Weak Ionising Power (No charge)

Stopped By: 

Many CM of lead, although that still doesn't stop it

USES: 

Tracers

Cancer Treatment

Sterilisation 

DANGERS:

Over use = cancer

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Half-Life

The Time it takes for the count rate to fall by half

OR

The Number of Nuclei of isotope to halve

(http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/gifs/halflife.gif)

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