types of radiation

• • Some atomic nuclei are unstable
  • bc of an imbalance in the forces within the nucleus: Forces exist between the particles in the nucleus
  • Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon which is unstable: It has two extra neutrons compared to stable carbon-12
  • When an unstable nucleus decays it emits radiation, called nuclear radiation

  
• • Some isotopes are unstable because of their large size or because they have too many or too few neutrons
  • Unstable nuclei can emit radiation to become more stable: Radiation can be in the form of a high energy particle or wave

  A) high energy particles

  B) waves

  C) radiation

  
• • types of radiation emitted:

  1. Alpha (α)
  2. Beta-minus (β )
  3. Beta-plus (β )
  4. Gamma (γ)
  5. Neutrons

  • As the radiation moves away from the nucleus, it transfers energy away from the system

  1. This reduces the overall energy ofthe nucleus
  2. This makes the nucleus more stable

  • The process of emitting radiation is called radioactive decay
  • Radioactive decay is a random process

  1. This means itis not possible to know exactly when a particular nucleus will decay
• • Isotopes can be unstable because they have too many or too few neutrons (unstable)
  • The process of emitting particles or waves of energy from an unstable nucleus is called radioactive decay
  • Scientists cannot predict when a nucleus will decay (random process,
  • Radiation refers to the particles or waves emitted from a decaying nucleus (different to radioactive particles)
• label

  A) alpha

  B) helium nucleus

  C) 2 neutrons

  D) 2 protons

  E) +2

  F) electric field

  G) beta

  H) fast moving electrons

  I) nuclei

  J) neutron

  K) proton

  L) electron

  M) -1

  N) electric field

  O) gamma rays

  P) electromagnetic waves

  Q) energy

  R) charge

  
• label

  A) unstable nuclei

  B) cm

  C) 10s

  D) infinite

  E) paper

  F) mm

  G) aluminium

  H) mm

  I) lead

  J) high

  K) medium

  L) low

  M) range

  N) penetrating

  O) ionisation

  
• label

  A) alpha

  B) beta

  C) gamma

  D) paper

  E) few mm aluminium

  F) few mm lead

  G) least

  H) most

  I) partially

  
• label

  A) hits

  B) electrons

  C) radiation

  D) electron

  E) knock out

  F) +2

  
• label

  A) b

  B) significantly