Radiation

• What is exposure to radiation called
• The measure of the rate at which energy is deposited into matter
• What is background radiation

  Low level radiation that is around us all the time
• What is contamination


  Radioactive particles getting onto objects, they may decay and cause you harm
• Describe beta radiation

  Speedy electrons given by nucleus, mid ionising and penetrating, absorbed by aluminium
• Describe alpha radiation

  2 neutrons and protons, helium nuclei, not penetrating, high ionising
• Describe gamma radiation

  Highly penetrating, weak ionising, short wavelength, absorbed by lead or concrete
• What does beta do to the charge of the nucleus

  Increases the charge, nucleus lost a neutron, gained a proton, so the mass doesn’t change
• What does alpha decay do to the nucleus

  Decreases charge and mass, atomic number reduced by 2, mass decreases by 4
• What do gamma rays do to the nucleus

  Don’t change the mass or charge