1. S3 Physics Radioactivity1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

2. 1. What effects can radiation have on living cells?
answer
Change the nature of cells
Kill cells

3. Sterilising surgical instruments Killing cancerous cells
. 2 Give two examples of radiation being used in medicine to kill cells.    
answer
Sterilising surgical instruments
Killing cancerous cells

4. 3. What is the central part of the atom called?
answer
The nucleus

5. 4. Name the particles orbiting around the nucleus. .
answer
Electrons

6. 5. Name the particles found in the nucleus.
answer
Protons and neutrons

7. 6. State the charge on the Electron Proton Neutron
answer
Negative Positive None

8. 7. Name the three types of nuclear radiation.
answer
Alpha (α) Beta (β) Gamma (ϒ)

9. 8. Which radiation has the shortest range in air?
answer
Alpha (α).

10. 9. What types of radiation would not pass through a 5mm thick sheet of aluminium?
answer
Alpha (α) and Beta (β)

11. Q10 What is meant by ionisation?
answer
The addition, or removal, of an electron from an uncharged atom.

12. 11. Some radiation detectors rely on ionisation. Name one such device
answer
Geiger-Muller tube

13. 12. Define Absorbed Dose of radiation.
answer
The energy transferred per
kilogram of the absorbing
material.

14. 13. State the unit of Absorbed Dose.
answer
Gray (Gy)

15. 14. State 3 factors which determine the biological harm from exposure to radiation.
answer
The absorbed dose
The type of radiation
The body organs /tissue exposed

16. 15. What quantity measures the biological effect of radiation on human tissue?  
answer
Equivalent Dose (H)

17. 16. State the unit of Equivalent Dose.
answer
Sieverts (Sv)

18. 17. What is the name of the process in which a large nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei?  
answer
Nuclear Fission

19. 18. Name two types of nuclear fission
answer
Spontaneous fission
Induced fission

20. Two “light” nuclei join together releasing energy.
19. Nuclear fusion takes place in the sun. Briefly describe what happens in this process.
answer
Two “light” nuclei join together releasing energy.

21. It could produce large amounts of relatively “clean” energy
20. Physicists are currently trying to produce Fusion reactions. How would success be of benefit to society?
answer
It could produce large amounts of relatively “clean” energy