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Nuclear Physics

α, β and γ radiation

  • 8 things to know
  • Papers 2 and 3

Overview

The nature, penetrating power and uses of each, the inverse-square law for gamma, and background correction.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

What does the inverse-square law state, and why is gamma used to gauge steel thickness?

Evaluation

How should a gamma source be positioned and counted when testing the inverse-square law?

Numbers

What should be plotted to verify the inverse-square law, and what result confirms it?

Numbers

How is background radiation accounted for in a count rate measurement?

Evaluation

What does ALARA stand for and guide, and what risks come with medical use of radiation?

Process

Name three artificial sources of background radiation

Key term

Which source typically contributes most to background radiation exposure?

Evaluation

What must be balanced when using radiation for medical purposes?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is alpha radiation composed of?

    Model answer

    Helium nuclei, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, emitted from unstable nuclei.

  2. 2

    Describe the process by which beta radiation is produced.

    Model answer

    A neutron in the nucleus converts to a proton, emitting a high-energy electron.

  3. 3

    What type of radiation is gamma radiation?

    Model answer

    High-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from excited nuclei.

  4. 4

    Which type of radiation has the greatest ionising ability?

    Model answer

    Alpha particles.

  5. 5

    What is the approximate range of alpha particles in air?

    Model answer

    A few centimetres.

  6. 6

    How does the ionising ability of beta particles compare to alpha and gamma?

    Model answer

    Beta particles have moderate ionising ability, between alpha (greatest) and gamma (weakest).

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