Radiation equations

• Radiation is the study of the atom's nucleus.
• Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation are types of radiation.
• Half life is a term related to radiation.
• Radiation can affect the body.
• Fission and fusion are processes related to radiation.
• Revision and test are related to radiation.
• The structure of the atom includes isotopes and nuclear equations.
• Carbon-12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, while carbon-13 has one more neutron than carbon-12.
• Isotopes have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.
• Carbon-13 is still a type of carbon, but has one more neutron than carbon-12.
• The number of protons tells you what the element is.
• Radioactive decay occurs when a nucleus is unstable.
• Most nuclei are stable, but when they are not they will emit radiation and ‘decay’ until they reach a stable state.
• Radioactive decay can result in the emission of an alpha particle, a beta particle, a gamma ray or a neutron.
• Alpha particles consist of 2 neutrons and 2 protons emitted.
• Beta particles involve a neutron transforming into a proton and an electron.
• Uranium 238 decays according to the sequence: α, β, β, α, α, α, α, α, β, β, α.
• Radioactive decay occurs when a nucleus is unstable.
• Most nuclei are stable, but when they are not they will emit radiation and ‘decay’ until they reach a stable state.
• Radioactive decay can be caused by emitting an alpha particle, a beta particle, a gamma ray or a neutron.
• When an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle its atomic number (proton number) goes down by 2 and the mass and charge of the nucleus are reduced.
• A Beta particle is an electron which is created and emitted by a nucleus that has too many neutrons compared to protons.
• A neutron changes to a proton and the beta particle is emitted.
• A gamma ray is electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus of an atom, it is uncharged and has no mass, so does not change the number of protons or neutrons.
• Neutrons are emitted by some radioactive substances as a result of alpha particles colliding with unstable nuclei.
• Uranium 238 decays according to the sequence: α, β, β, α, α, α, α, α, β, β, α, β, β, α.
• An atom with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons is a form of ionising radiation, it is made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons.
• The thickness of a material can be monitored using beta radiation as it will only pass through aluminium foil that is less than about 5 mm thick.