Properties of RadiationEdexcel IGCSE Physics: Flashcards

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What is the atomic (proton) number?

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What is the atomic (proton) number?: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
What is the mass (nucleon) number?: The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
Define isotope.: An atom of the same element (same proton number) with a different number of neutrons, and therefore a different mass number.
What is an alpha particle?: A helium nucleus, made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, emitted from an unstable nucleus.
What is a beta particle?: A fast-moving electron emitted from an unstable nucleus when a neutron changes into a proton.
What is a gamma ray?: High-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted from an unstable nucleus.
Rank alpha, beta and gamma radiation from most to least ionising.: Alpha (most ionising) > beta > gamma (least ionising).
Rank alpha, beta and gamma radiation from least to most penetrating.: Alpha (least penetrating, stopped by paper) < beta (stopped by aluminium) < gamma (most penetrating, reduced by thick lead).
How does alpha decay change the mass number and atomic number of a nucleus?: Mass number decreases by 4; atomic number decreases by 2.
How does beta decay change the mass number and atomic number of a nucleus?: Mass number stays the same; atomic number increases by 1.
Name two devices that can detect ionising radiation.: Photographic film and a Geiger–Müller (GM) detector.
What must be true for a nuclear equation to be correctly balanced?: The sum of the mass numbers must be equal on both sides, and the sum of the atomic numbers (charges) must be equal on both sides.