Radiation which is present in the environment all the time
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What is the level of radiation like? High? Low?
It remains constance unless a leak causes it to change
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Is the level of background radiation the same in all countries?
No, it varies from one part of the country to another
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One use of radiation is for tracers. It can be used to? (3)
Monitor the flow of liquids or check for blockages/leaks in pipes, find route of underground pipes, track dispersal of waste
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How is it used in tracers?(4)
Radioactive substance is added to liquid in the pipe, radiation is detected using a gelgocounter on the surface, leak/blockage would give a sudden rise in the amount of radiation, little radiation detected after leak/blockage
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What other radiation can be used as tracers? What are the complications?
Gamma, the half life needs to be short so the liquid isn't radioactive for long
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What are alpha sources used in? How does it work?
Smoke detectors - the smoke particles are hit by alpha particles, less is ionised by alpha particles - current reduced and so alarm sounds
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How do we date rocks? (3)
Rocks contain uranium, and over time the uranium atoms decay and produce atoms of lead. Ration of uranium:lead can be used to calculate the age
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Radiocarbon dating uses what?
Carbon-4
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How do we date matter?
Once a living thing dies it no longer takes in CO2, carbon-14 already present is decaying and so activity decreases. Ratio of activity from living matter and from sample is used to find the age of the sample.
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Why isn't it possible to date things that died recently?
Because half life is thousands of years
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What is the level of radiation like? High? Low?
Back
It remains constance unless a leak causes it to change
Card 3
Front
Is the level of background radiation the same in all countries?
Back
Card 4
Front
One use of radiation is for tracers. It can be used to? (3)
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