This page contains the detailed and easy notes for  GCSE Edexcel Physics Radioactivity for revision and understanding Radioactivity.

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GCSE Edexcel Physics Radioactivity Complete Revision Summary

Radioactivity

Radioactivity

• History of the atom
• Structure of Atoms
• Radioactive Decay
• Nuclear Equations
• Half Life
• Radioactive contamination
• Uses of radiations
• Hazards of radiations
• Nuclear Fission
• Nuclear Fusion

History of Atoms

• Early 1800: John Dalton: Everything that has mass or volume is made up of atoms which is indivisible.
• Late 1800: J J Thomsom: Discovered Atoms and Gave Plum Pudding model

• J Thomson took a glass tube and in this glass tube he kept a gas at a very low pressure.
• The gas tube had a cathode and a anode and it was given a very high voltage around 150000V.
• Thomson saw that the glass tube gave a green glow and it came from the rays that was given out of the cathode and he called these rays as cathode rays and as they were coming towards the positive terminal he concluded that these are the negative rays which are coming out of the gas atoms which are present in this glass tube, so he discovered the atom can further be divided and it has a negative and positive charge of Electrons with subatomic particles.
• On the basis of that he gave this plum pudding model.

Plum pudding model says that atom is the sphere of the positive charge the positive charge is equally distributed and in this sphere of the positive charge the electrons are embedded as raisins and give the plum pudding model and according to him the electron the positive were similar therefore atom is neutral.

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Alpha Scattering Experiment – Geiger and Marsden –Radioactive particles

• Dense, positively charged particles (called alpha particles) were fired at the thinnest piece of gold foil.
• Most of the alpha particle passed straight through the gold atoms with their diffuse cloud of positive charge.
• Rutherford modify the structure of the J J Thomson and he said that the positive charge concentrated at the centre is the nucleus and he said that nucleus at the centre which is consisting of the positive charge elements atomic particles and then the electrons are revolving around this nucleus

1914: Neil Bohr – Idea of Electronic shells

Energy given by atoms when heated had only specific amount of energy

So Electrons are orbitiing at the specific energy levels called the electronic Shells

1932: James Chadwick – Discovered Neutrones

Due to difference in mass of protons and the nucleus.

Radioactivity

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Structure of Atoms

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No. of Proton, Neutron and Electron

• Atom is neutral so it has equal number of proton and neutrons
• The number of protons in each atom of an element is called its atomic number.
• The number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is called its mass number.
• number of neutrons = mass number — atomic number

Isotopes

1. a) Members of the same elements
2. b) Have same atomic number but different mass number
3. c) Same number of electron and protons but different neutrons
4. d) Since electron numbers are the same they show similar chemical properties
5. e) They have different physical properties and radioactive properties.

Alpha Beta and Gamma Radiations

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HALF LIFE

• Activity of the sample is the rate of decay.
• Half life is the time it takes for the activity to reduce to half.
• If a half life of a sample is 5 years and we started with the activity of 20 Bq

NUCLEAR EQUATIONS

Alpha emmissions

The mass number decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2.

₉₂U^{238                  234}Th₉₀ + ₂He⁴

Beta Emissions

The mass number remains the same but the atomic number increases by 1.

⁷³Zn_{30                   31}Ga⁷³ + _-1β⁰

Gamma Emissions

No change is mass and charge.

₂₇Co⁶⁰                   ₂₇Co⁶⁰ + ₀γ⁰

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USES OF NUCLEAR RADIATIONS

ALPHA

• It is used in smoke detecting alarm.
• The alpha particles due to ionizing power ionize the air particles which then create a current. During smoke, the current is distrupted as smoke particles prevent the ionization of the air which results in the ringing of the alarm.

THICKNESS OF PAPER by BETA

The beta source sends the radiation which is passed through the paper or a materials whose thickness is monitored. Depending on the thickness of the material the radiation strikes the detector. If the radiation takes more time then the feedback is send to the roller to come closer – and make the material more thin.

USES OF GAMMA RADIATIONS

MEDICINE

• IT is used to kill tumour or cancer cells.
• Due to its highest penentrating power gamma can penentrate deep inside the body tissue.
• Gamma cameras are used to take the pictures of the internal organs of the body.
• Gamma radiation emitted by radiactive tracers helps to view the blockage in the organs of the bosy.

FOOD

• It is used to sterlize the food.

DEVELOPMENT

• It is used to visualize any blockage in the gas pipeline.
• It is used to determine the weak point in the gas pipeline.
• It is used in the development of nuclear reactor and bombs.

Radioactivity Hazards

IONIZATION

• The process of knocking of the electrons and making the atoms charged is ionization.
• Alpha is strongly ionizing and it can ionize the DNA in our cells causing mutations.

Preventing Hazards

1. Limit the exposure time of the workers working in radioactive facility.
2. Shield the space where radioactive materials is kept.
3. Wear protecting shield, eye cover while working with radioactive materials.
4. Monitor the exposure to radiation.

RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION

The presence of a radioactive material with another desired material is radioactive contamination.

NUCLEAR FISSION

• It is the process by which a bigger nuclei like Uranium or
• Plutonium breaks into two daughter nuclei releasing energy.

Chain Reaction

When a fast moving neutron hits the nucleus of the Uranium atom it breaks into two daughter nuclei releasing three neutrons. Each of these neutrons creates a further fission releasing more neutrons and resulting in large amount of energy.

NUCLEAR REACTOR

FUEL RODS

• It is the rod of the fissionable material which undergoes fission releasing neutrons into the other rods causing chain reaction.

CONTROL RODS

• They are made up of boron and cadmium.
• They are dipped inside the reactor to absorb excess neutrons to keep the chain reaction under control.

COOLANT

• It is made up of water that will convert into steam with the heat released during the chain reaction and run the turbine.

MODERATOR

• It is made up of heavy water to slow the speed of the neutrons to make them more efficient to carry out fission.

Nuclear Energy           Heat Energy           Kinetic Energy              Electrical Energy

NUCLEAR FUSION

• When two smaller nuclei fuse to form a bigger nuclei.
• ₁H² + ₁H² ₂He⁴
• This reaction takes place at high temperatures like in the sun as to fuse the two nuclei the repulsion force between the two nuclei need to overcome,
• It is therefore difficult to build a fusion reactor as well.

FUSION VERSUS FISSION

• Fusion is promising as the raw material is also easily available and the waste is not radioactive.
• But the reaction requires higher temperature to overcome nuclear repulsion which is a big problem.

KEY TERMS

Alpha Radiation – The emission of an alpha particle from the nucleus of an atom

Beta Radiation – The emission of a beta particle from the nucleus of an atom. Beta radiation takes the form of either an electron or a positron being emitted from an atom.

Gamma Radiation – The emission of high-energy wave from the nucleus of an atom.

Radioactivity – It refers to the particles which are emitted from nucleus as a result of nuclear instability.

Half Life – The half-life is the average time taken for the number of unstable nuclei to halve.

Activity – Activity is the rate at which a source of unstable nuclei decays

Isotopes – Isotopes are atoms of the same element, but with different masses, which have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons.

Atomic Number – It is the number or protons in the nucleus.

Mass Number – It is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Radioactive Contamination – The wastes of radioactive element are emitting the radiations which are contaminating the soil, air as well as water.

Nuclear Fission – Nuclear fission is the process by which one atomic nucleus splits to form two atomic nuclei.

Nuclear Fusion – Nuclear fusion is the process by which two atomic nuclei combine to form a single atomic nucleus.

Chain Reaction – It is a self-sustaining reaction in which the fission of nuclei produces some particles that cause fission of at least equal number of nuclei of the succeeding generation

Moderator –A moderator is used in a nuclear reactor to slow down the neutrons produced from fission.

Nuclear Reactor – A Nuclear Reactor is a device for obtaining and using the energy from a controlled nuclear chain reaction.

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TEST YOURSELF

Q1 Distinguish between alpha beta and Gamma Radiation?

Q2 Complete the nuclear Equations –

₉₂U²³⁸                  ₉₀Th ²³⁴ + ₂He⁴

₇N¹⁴                      ₈N ¹⁴ + _-1β⁰

Q3 A radioactivity substance have the half life 20 years. How much time it will take to reduced to 1/16th of the original activity?

1                      ½                        ¼                       1/8                      1/16

4 Half Life = 4 x 20 = 80 years

Q4 How alpha can be used in smoke detector

It is used in smoke detecting alarm. The alpha particles due to ionizing power ionize the air particles which then create a current. During smoke, the current is disrupted as smoke particles prevent the ionization of the air which results in the ringing of the alarm.

Q5 How beta can be used in measuring the thickness of paper?

The beta source sends the radiation which is passed through the paper or a materials whose thickness is monitored. Depending on the thickness of the material the radiation strikes the detector. If the radiation takes more time then the feedback is send to the roller to come closer and make the material more thin.

Q6 Explain the uses of Gamma radiations?

MEDICINE

• IT is used to kill tumour or cancer cells.
• Due to its highest penentrating power gamma can penentrate deep inside the body tissue.
• Gamma cameras are used to take the pictures of the internal organs of the body.
• Gamma radiation emitted by radiOactive tracers helps to view the blockage in the organs of the body.

FOOD

• It is used to sterlize the food.

DEVELOPMENT

• It is used to visualize any blockage in the gas pipeline.
• It is used to determine the weak point in the gas pipeline.
• It is used in the development of nuclear reactor and bombs.

Q7 Distinguish between Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion

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Disclaimer:

I have tried my level best to cover the maximum of your specification. But this is not the alternative to the textbook. You should cover the specification or the textbook thoroughly. This is the quick revision to help you cover the gist of everything. In case you spot any errors then do let us know and we will rectify it.

References:

BBC Bitesize

Wikipedia

Wikimedia Commons

Image Source:

Wikipedia

Wikimedia

Commons

Flickr

Pixabay

Make sure you have watched the above videos and are familiar with the key definations before trying these questions. It is also good to time yourself while doing these questions so that you can work on the speed as well.

Radioactivity

• Atoms & Isotopes 1 MS
• Atoms & Isotopes 1 QP
• Atoms & Isotopes 2 MS
• Atoms & Isotopes 2 QP
• Atoms & Isotopes 3 MS
• Atoms & Isotopes 3 QP
• Atoms & Nuclear Radiation 1 MS
• Atoms & Nuclear Radiation 1 QP
• Atoms & Nuclear Radiation 2 MS
• Atoms & Nuclear Radiation 2 QP
• Atoms & Nuclear Radiation 3 MS
• Atoms & Nuclear Radiation 3 QP
• Hazards & Uses of Radioactivity 1 MS
• Hazards & Uses of Radioactivity 1 QP
• Hazards & Uses of Radioactivity 2 MS
• Hazards & Uses of Radioactivity 2 QP
• Hazards & Uses of Radioactivity 3 MS
• Hazards & Uses of Radioactivity 3 QP
• Nuclear Fission & Fusion 1 MS
• Nuclear Fission & Fusion 1 QP
• Nuclear Fission & Fusion 2 MS
• Nuclear Fission & Fusion 2 QP
• Nuclear Fission & Fusion 3 MS
• Nuclear Fission & Fusion 3 QP