Types of radiation

• What do atoms contain?

  Three sub-atomic particles called protons, neutrons and electrons
• Where are protons and neutrons found?

  The nucleus, at the centre of the atom
• How are electrons arranged?

  In energy levels around the nucleus (electron shells)
• The number of electrons in an atom is always the same as the number of protons, so atoms are electrically neutral overall.
• If an atom loses one or more electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion
• If an atom gains one or more electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion
• What is the proton number?

  The number of protons an atom contains
• All the atoms of a particular element have the same proton number
• The atoms of different elements have different numbers of protons
• What is the nucleon number?

  The total number of protons and neutrons an atom contains
• The nucleon number is never smaller than the proton number
• What do the proton and nucleon number allow you to work out?


  The number of each in an atom
• What are isotopes?


  Atoms of an element with the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons
• What is ionising radiation?


  Radiation that is able to remove electrons from atoms or molecules to produce positively harmed particles called ions
• How many types of ionising radiation are there?

  Three
• What is ionising radiation emitted from?

  The unstable nuclei of radioactive atoms
• What are radioactive atoms?

  An atom that has an unstable nuclei that can break apart or change, releasing radiation
• What are the three types of ionising radiation?

  Alpha, Beta and Gamma
• What does alpha radiation consist of?

  Alpha particles
• What are alpha particles?

  Subatomic particles comprising two protons and two neutrons (the same as a helium nucleus)
• What do helium atoms contain?

  2 protons, 2 neutrons and 2 electrons
• What do alpha particles contain?

  2 protons and 2 neutrons
• What does beta radiation consist of?

  High energy electrons emitted from the nucleus
• Where do the electrons come from in beta radiation?

  They form when a neutron splits into a proton and an electron. The electron then shoots out of the nucleus at high speed, leaving the new proton behind in the nucleus.
• What is gamma radiation?

  Very short wavelength, high frequency electromagnetic radiation.
• What is gamma radiation similar to?

  Other types of electromagnetic radiation such as visible light and x-rays, which can travel long distances
• How many types of nuclear waste categories are there?

  Thre
• What are the three different categories for nuclear waste disposal?

  Low, intermediate and high level
• How is low level nuclear waste disposed of?

  Disposed of in drums and surrounded by concrete, and in clay-lined landfill sites
• How is intermediate level nuclear waste disposed of?

  Mixed with concrete and put in a stainless steel drum in a purpose-built store
• How is high level nuclear waste disposed of?

  Stored underwater in large pools for 20 years, then placed in storage casks in purpose-built underground stores where air can circulate to remove the heat produced. High-level waste decays into intermediate-level waste over many thousands of years.
• What else can high level nuclear waste be used?

  By being reprocessed to extract nuclear fuel
• How is energy produced using nuclear fusion?

  Tritium and deuterium fuse, which produced lots of energy and helium atoms. The energy can be used as power for electricity in homes and factories.
• What is background radiation?

  Radiation that is present in the environment from natural and man-made sources.
• Where does background radiation come from?

  Some from natural sources, and some from artificial sources
• What are some examples of natural sources of background radiation?

  • Cosmic rays
  • Rocks and soil
  • Living things
• For most people, natural sources contribute the most to their background radiation dose.
• What has added to background radiation?

  Human activity by creating and using artificial sources o radiation
• What are examples of artificial sources of radiation?

  X-rays, radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons and radioactive waste from nuclear power stations.
• How much of artificial sources account for our average background radiation sources?

  15%