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Summary GCSE Physics (AQA) revision notes for radioactivity
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Detailed and colourful revision summary of the topic with key equations
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Radiation can be used for… Measuring the thickness of foil through the irradiation of beta as it is penetrating enough to go through some
thicknesses but not so penetrating that it can go through all
Smoke alarms through the irradiation of alpha as it isn’t penetrating enough to pass through the smoke
Treating cancerous tumours through the irradiation of gamma as it can penetrate through the entire body with
high intensity and won’t ionise many cells apart from where it is being concentrated
Sterilising food and medical equipment through the irradiation of gamma as it can penetrate the furthest and
through the packaging
Finding leaks through contaminating it with gamma as it is most penetrating and can be detected at long
distances
Finding blockages in the body through contaminating it with gamma because it can be detected outside the body
Electric and magnetic fields
The charges of alpha and beta particles mean that they are deflected by electric fields. Beta is deflected to the positive
plate and alpha is deflected to the negative plate but gamma isn’t deflected at all because it is not charged.
In magnetic fields beta is deflected the most because it is smaller and lighter than alpha which is slightly deflected and
gamma isn’t deflected at all
Nuclear fission
The splitting of the nucleus of a very large atom into
two daughter atoms
Decay equations
A slow-moving neutron is absorbed by a large unstable
nucleus which then breaks down into two smaller When the nucleus of a radioisotope emits an
more stable daughter nuclei of similar sizes and 2 or 3 alpha particle, it loses 4 nucleons (2 protons
fast moving neutrons and in turn releases nuclear and 2 neutrons)
energy. in nuclear power plants this energy can be When a nucleus emits a beta particle it emits
used to produce electricity an electron. This happens because a neutron
has changed into a proton and an electron
However, this process can lead to a chain reaction
A gamma wave is a type of high energy
where the neutrons emitted by fissions cause further
electrostatic radiation. It can’t be shown in a
fissions which can be difficult to control. Power plants
decay equation as it has no mass
use control rods which absorb neutrons in order to
In a decay equation both sides must balance
prevent chain reactions.
However sometimes fissions can be induced in which
case a moderator like pressurised water is used to slow
down the fast-moving electrons to a pace slow enough
for them to be absorbed by other large unstable nuclei
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