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P3 and P4 - Coggle Diagram
P3 and P4
L7 - Fission and Fusion
Fission is the process of splitting a heavier nucleus into two, lighter, daughter nuclei.
When a nucleus splits due to collision with a neutron, it releases neutrons that, henceforth, cause a chain reaction.
In a nuclear reactor, fission is controlled with boron control rods that absorb neutrons. Coolant also surrounds the reactor to avoid meltdown.
Nuclear fusion is the process of merging two smaller nuclei to form a heavier, larger nucleus. In this process, some mass is converted to energy.
Nuclear fission occurs when a nucleus absorbs a neutron, this causes the nucleus to become unstable and split into two daughter nucleus.
One issue with nuclear fission is the production of radioactive waste that is difficult to dispose of.
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L3 - Radioactive Decay
Some atomic nuclei are unstable, these nuclei emit radiation in order to become stable again. This process is random.
Activity is the rate at which a source of unstable nuclei decay. This is measured in Becquerels. 1 Becquerel = 1 decay per second.
Alpha decay is a helium atom emitted from an unstable nuclei, forming a new atom. This is highly ionising but large so its penetrative properties are low.
Beta decay is a high energy electron emitted from an unstable nucleus. This is done through the decay of a neutron into an electron and a proton. These are more penetrative than alpha particles but less ionising.
Gamma decay occurs when an unstable nucleus emits an electromagnetic wave in order to become more stable; this wave is of high energy, it is extremely penetrative but not very ionsing.
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L7 - Brownian Motion
Within gasses, particles move in random direction, at random speeds.
As gas particles move about with high speeds; they collide with other particles and the walls of the contained that they are in. This collision with the walls of the container exerts a force on the wall and henceforth, pressure is exerted.
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The pressure of a gas in a contained can be increased by: increasing the volume of the gas, increasing the temperature of the gas and decreasing the volume of the container.
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L6 - Uses of Radiation
Radioactive tracers - Ingested or injected gamma-emitting isotope, this tracer gathers in denser areas of tissue.
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L4 - Half Life
Half life is defined as the time that it takes for the number of unstable nuclei in an isotopic sample to half. Alternatively, it is the time that it takes for the activity of a sample to half.
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