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P4 Revision - Coggle Diagram
P4 Revision
L3 - Types of Radiation
An unstable nucleus will emit radiation as it changes to become more stable, this is called radioactive decay.
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Alpha:
1) Made up from 2 neutrons and 2 protons.
2) +2 charge
3) Very ionising
4) Low penetration ability (stopped with a sheet of paper)
Beta:
1) Made up from a single electron.
2) -1 Charge
3) Relatively ionising
4) Medium penetration ability (stopped with a few mm of aluminium foil.
Gamma:
1) Made up from an electromagnetic wave (high frequency, short wavelength).
2) No charge
3) Very low ionising properties.
4) High penetration properties, stopped with a few cm of lead.
After an alpha or beta particle is emitted through decay, the nucleus has too much energy so a gamma wave is emitted.
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L6 - Uses of Radiation
Radioactive tracers are used to aid diagnosis, these tracers are gamma emitting isotopes that are ingested or injected; these tracers will gather in very dense areas (for example; a tumour).
Radiotherapy involved a gamma ray being targeted at a tumour, since the rays are ionising; they aim to destroy the tumour by damaging and destroying the DNA of the malignant cells.
More unstable isotopes generally have a shorter half life whilst more stable sources typically have longer half lives.
Radiotherapy has the potential to cause long term side effects such as infertility in men, early menopause in women, changes to the skin, bowel incontinence and lymphoedema.
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