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radiation - Coggle Diagram
radiation
alpha radiation
helium nuclei so it has a +2 charge
has 2 protons neutrons
atomic mass of 4
because it is a large particle it is not very penetrative
can only travel a few cm in air
+2 charge makes it more ionising
4
2α
used in smoke alarms because they get stopped by smoke
beta radiation
high speed electron
-1 charge
has virtually no mass
less ionising due to smaller charge
because its an electron it can travel further as it is smaller
more penetrative
stopped by thin sheet of aluminium
0
-1β
used to test for the thickness of metals
half life
how many years until the nuclei is half its original mass
the activity is measured in becquerels
a short half life is one where it gives off loads of radiation but then becomes stable quickly
a long half life gives of smaller amounts of radiation over a longer time
nuclear fision
1) fire a neutron at an unstable nuclei and it is absorbed
2) the unstable nuclei splits and forms two lighter elements
also releases several neutrons which hit other unstable nuclei causing a chain reaction
to control the reaction control rods are dipped in to absorb some of the neutrons so not all the neutrons are fire out
nuclear fusion
two lighter nuclei join to form a larger nucleus
some of the mass from the lighter nuclei is converted into energy
fusion releases more energy than fission
scientists havent figured a way to do it because you need alot of energy and heat
gamma radiation
gamma radiation is a wave not a particle
because its a wave not a particle it is the most penetrative
however it has no charge so its the least ionising
stopped by thick lead or concrete
used as a medical tracer
background radiation
measured as radiation dose which is risk of harm to the body tissue
measured in sieverts
isotopes have the same number of protons but different neutrons because neutrons don't change the charge
radiation comes from unstable isotopes around us e.g: rocks and building
it also comes from cosmic rays mostly from the sun
and also human activity such as nuclear waste and nuclear explosions