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Nuclear Physics

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  • How is a beta particle formed?
    When a neutron decays into a proton + electron (beta)
  • Name a natural source of background radiation.
    Radon gas / cosmic rays / rocks
  • What are the three main types of radiation?
    Alpha, Beta, Gamma
  • Explain why gamma rays are used in cancer treatment.
    They Penetrate tissues and kill cancer cells without damaging surrounding organs as much
  • A sample has a half-life of 5 days. How much is left after 15 days?
    1/8 of the original
  • Which type of radiation is a helium nucleus?
    Alpha
  • What is a radioactive tracer?
    A substance used in medicine or industry to follow the path of a substance
  • Which radiation changes a neutron into a proton?
    Beta
  • What does "half-life" mean?
    Time taken for half the radioactive nuclei to decay
  • Why are alpha particles not used for internal medical tracers?
    They are highly ionising and damaging, and can't penetrate tissue well
  • What is the mass number of a gamma ray?
    0
  • What is the nucleus of a hydrogen atom called?
    Proton
  • What is the charge of a beta particle?
    Negative
  • What changes occur in the nucleus during beta decay?
    A neutron turns into a proton and emits a beta particle
  • True or False: Gamma radiation has no mass.
    True
  • What are the health risks of radiation exposure?
    Cell mutation, cancer, tissue damage
  • Which radiation is stopped by paper?
    Alpha
  • Why does a radioactive isotope become stable over time?
    Its unstable nuclei decay to form stable nuclei
  • What happens to the atomic number during alpha decay?
    It decreases by 2
  • How can you reduce exposure to radiation in a lab?
    Use shielding, limit time, increase distance
  • What is meant by "ionising radiation"?
    Radiation that can remove electrons from atoms
  • Which type of radiation is the most penetrating?
    Gamma radiation
  • How is nuclear radiation used in smoke detectors?
    alpha particles ionise air; smoke blocks ionisation, changing current
  • Which radiation is stopped by a few mm of aluminium?
    Beta
  • State one use of beta radiation in industry.
    Thickness monitoring in paper/plastic
  • What is radioactive contamination?
    When radioactive material is deposited on or in an object
  • What is the unit of radioactive activity?
    Becquerel (Bq)
  • How is irradiation different from contamination?
    Irradiation = exposure to radiation; Contamination = radioactive material on/in you
  • Why is gamma radiation suitable for detecting pipe leaks underground?
    It penetrates soil and can be detected above ground
  • What happens to the mass number during beta decay?
    It stays the same
  • Why do we use isotopes with short half-lives in medicine?
    So they decay quickly and don’t remain radioactive in the body
  • True or False: All isotopes are radioactive.
    False
  • Which nuclear equation shows alpha decay of Uranium-238?
    ²³⁸U → ²³⁴Th + ⁴He
  • Describe how a GM tube works (briefly).
    Radiation ionises gas in the tube; the current pulse is counted
  • What instrument is used to detect radiation?
    Geiger-Müller tube (or GM tube)
  • Which radiation travels at the speed of light?
    Gamma
  • Why do scientists wear lead aprons when working with radiation?
    Lead absorbs radiation, reducing exposure
  • Is radioactivity a chemical or nuclear change?
    Nuclear
  • What type of radiation is used to sterilise surgical equipment?
    Gamma
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