Starter quiz
- What part of an atom is identical to a beta-minus particle?
- an electron ✓
- a nucleon
- a neutron
- a proton
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- The nucleus of which atom is identical to an alpha particle?
- a hydrogen nucleus
- a helium nucleus ✓
- a lithium nucleus
- a beryllium nucleus
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- How is a beta particle emitted from a radioactive atom?
- slowly from an outer electron shell
- at very high speed from an inner electron shell
- slowly from the nucleus
- at very high speed from the nucleus ✓
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- What is the mass (nucleon) number of Pu?
- 94
- 146
- 240 ✓
- 334
-
- How many electons are in an atom of Th?
- 90 ✓
- 141
- 231
- 321
-
- How many neutrons are in the nucleus of an atom of U?
- 92
- 143 ✓
- 235
- 327
-
Exit quiz
- Which particles are radioactive?
- alpha particles and beta particles
- alpha particles but not beta particles
- beta particles but not alpha particles
- neither alpha particles nor beta particles ✓
-
- Why is a beta particle not radioactive?
- It is not harmful.
- It can't decay any further. ✓
- It has no energy.
- It has negative charge.
- It has positive charge.
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- How can alpha particles damage atoms they pass sufficiently close to?
- They collide with and break up the atom's nucleus.
- They knock the atom's nucleus out of the atom.
- They pull electrons off atoms they pass close to. ✓
- They destroy the electrons of atoms that they collide with.
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- Which of these is the thinnest barrier that can stop most beta particles?
- a single sheet of paper
- the outer layer of a person's skin
- a thin sheet of aluminium ✓
- a thick sheet of lead
- several metres of concrete
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- Put these types of radiation in order of how ionising they are, starting with the most ionising.
- 1⇔alpha particles
- 2⇔beta particles
- 3⇔gamma radiation
- Put these types of radiation in order of how penetrating they are, starting with the most penetrating.
- 1⇔gamma radiation
- 2⇔beta particles
- 3⇔alpha particles
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Radioactive particles can emit radiation in the form of particles or gamma radiation.
- Ionising radiation forces electrons from atoms, leaving an atom with a positive charge called an ion.
- Alpha particles are more ionising than beta or gamma because they have a bigger charge and stronger electric field.
Common misconception
Alpha and beta particles and gamma radiation are radioactive.
Differentiate between radioactive particles that can emit radiation and the radiation itself. Radiation consists of fast moving particles or radiation that can cause ionisation because their electric fields interact with those of outer electrons.
Keywords
Radioactive particle - a particle that can decay and emit nuclear radiation
Radiation - emitted by a radioactive nucleus when it decays
Ionisation - the removal of one or more outer electrons from an atom
Alpha particle - a particle of radiation made from two protons and two neutrons, with a relative charge of +2
Beta particle - a particle of radiation made of an electron emitted at high speed from an unstable nucleus
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