P7 - Higher

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Alpha Radiation
Alpha particles that are emitted in the type of radioactive decay (alpha decay)
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Beta radiation
Beta particles (electrons)
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Gamma radiation
Also known as gamma rays, it's the most penetrating radioactive substance
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Unstable nucleus
A nucleus that does not have enough strong nuclear forces to keep it permanently together
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Can radioactive decay be predicted?
No, as it's a random event
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What is at the centre of every atom?
A positively charged nucleus which is much smaller than the atom and which stores the biggest mass
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What is the Plum Pudding model?
A sphere of positive charge with electrons scattered around the sphere
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Photon
The radiation emitted when an electron moving around the nucleus jumps from one energy level to a lower one
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Atomic number
Number of protons in the atom
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Mass number
Number of protons plus neutrons in the atom
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Isotope
An atom of the same element with a different number of neutrons
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Ionisation
When the radiation from a radioactive substance knocks electrons out of the atom and gives the atoms a charge
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Irradiated
An object that has been exposed to ionising radiation
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Radioactive contamination
The unwanted presence of materials containing radioactive atoms of other materials.
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What can ionisation do to a living cell?
Damage or kill it
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Activity
The number of unstable atoms that decay per second in a radioactive source.
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Count rate
The number of counts per second detected by the Geiger counter.
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Half-life of a radioactive isotope
The average time it takes for the number of nuclei of the isotope in the sample to halve
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Nuclear fission
The splitting of an atom's nucleus into two smaller nuclei and the release of two or three neutrons and energy.
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Chain reaction
Reactions in which one reactions causes further reactions, which in turn cause further reactions etc
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Nuclear fission reactor
Reactors that release energy steadily due to the fission of a suitable isotope
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Moderator
Substance in a nuclear reactor that slows down fission neutrons.
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Nuclear fusion
The process of forcing the nuclei of two atoms close enough together so that they form a single larger nucleus.
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Radon gas
An alpha particle emitting isotope which can seep through houses through the ground in some areas.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Beta particles (electrons)

Back

Beta radiation

Card 3

Front

Also known as gamma rays, it's the most penetrating radioactive substance

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A nucleus that does not have enough strong nuclear forces to keep it permanently together

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

No, as it's a random event

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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