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Chapter 4 Explain - Ionizing Radiation

The document discusses different types of ionizing radiation and their properties. It explains that ionizing radiation can knock electrons off atoms, creating ions. Alpha particles have a large size and double positive charge, allowing them to travel only a short distance in air before depositing their energy, though they can cause significant damage over that short distance if deposited in living tissue. Beta particles are smaller than alpha particles and have a single negative charge, allowing them to travel farther in air than alpha particles but depositing less energy at points along their path. Gamma rays are waves of energy without mass or charge that can travel the farthest in air, over 10 meters, before interacting but deposit the least energy along their path. Background radiation is also discussed,

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134 views

Chapter 4 Explain - Ionizing Radiation

The document discusses different types of ionizing radiation and their properties. It explains that ionizing radiation can knock electrons off atoms, creating ions. Alpha particles have a large size and double positive charge, allowing them to travel only a short distance in air before depositing their energy, though they can cause significant damage over that short distance if deposited in living tissue. Beta particles are smaller than alpha particles and have a single negative charge, allowing them to travel farther in air than alpha particles but depositing less energy at points along their path. Gamma rays are waves of energy without mass or charge that can travel the farthest in air, over 10 meters, before interacting but deposit the least energy along their path. Background radiation is also discussed,

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Chapter 4 Explain - Ionizing Radiation

What is radiation?
Radiation can be described as non-ionizing or ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation does not have
enough energy to knock electrons from atoms as it strikes them. Sunlight, radio waves, and
cell phone signals are examples of non-ionizing radiation. However, it can still cause harm, like
when you get a sunburn.
Ionizing radiation is the type of radiation most people think of when they hear the word
radiation. Ionizing radiation can knock electrons from an atom, creating electrically charged
particles called ions. Because we cannot see, feel, hear, smell, or taste ionizing radiation, no
one knew it existed until 1895. But it was here all along. Since its discovery, radiation has been
one of the most thoroughly studied subjects in modern science. Scientists have found
important uses for ionizing radiation. They have also studied its effects on human health.

**Stop! Summarize what you have read on the bottom of page 52 of your notebook!

How does ionizing radiation deposit energy?


Ionizing radiation can cause chemical changes in living cells. However, the types of ionizing
radiation have different energies and therefore have different effects.
Think back to the Engage lesson. That’s where you started wondering about the penetrating
power of particles. Alpha particles are relatively large and carry a double positive charge (++).
They are not very penetrating and a piece of paper or your skin can stop them. They travel
only a few centimeters but deposit all their energies along their short paths. So while they go
shorter distances, in delicate tissue, alpha can do a large amount of damage.

Beta particles (electrons) are much smaller than alpha particles. They carry a single negative
charge (-). They are more penetrating than alpha particles, but thin aluminum metal can stop
them. They can travel several meters but deposit less energy at any one point along their
paths than alpha particles.

Gamma rays are waves of energy


without mass or electrical charge.
They can travel 10 meters in air
before causing ionization. This is a
long distance compared to alpha or
beta particles. However, gamma
rays deposit less energy along their
paths. Lead, water, and concrete
stop gamma radiation.

Study the sketch below. It shows


the penetrating power of alpha,
beta, and gamma radiation. The
black circles represent ionized
atoms. Notice that each type of
radiation travels farther before
causing ionization.

**Stop! Summarize what you


have read on the bottom of page 52 of your notebook!

What is background radiation?


Most of the radiation you will experience in your lifetime will NOT be ionizing radiation.
Instead, it is called background radiation. Let’s look more closely at where we find radiation.
There are many radioactive materials in our everyday world—and always has been. The ocean
we swim in, the mountains we climb, the air we breathe, the foods we eat, and the water we
drink all expose us to small amounts of radiation from nature. This is because there are
unstable isotopes that emit ionizing radiation everywhere on Earth. The sum of our exposure
from these sources is called background radiation.

The main natural sources of radiation are


● >50 % Radon in the atmosphere
● 10-20% Terrestrial radiation from the rocks and soils around us
● 10-20 % Cosmic radiation from space, affected by elevation
● 10-20% Internal radiation, the radioactive elements in our bodies, mainly from what we

eat or drink

Photo Credit = DOE Harnessed Atom, SAIC

**Stop! Summarize what you have read on the bottom of page 52 of your notebook!

Sidebar Reading: Fission and Nuclear Binding Energy


Fusion involves putting together nuclei. Fission involves taking apart nuclei. Fission is different
from other nuclear reactions such as radioactive decay and fusion, even though all involve the
nucleus changing. In fission reactions, nuclei split into parts.
Nuclear power plants use fission reactions to produce energy.
Study this nuclear reaction.
235 1 141 92
92 𝑈 + 0𝑛 − −> 56 𝐵𝑎 + 36 𝐾𝑟 + 3 10 𝑛 + 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦

Like fusion reactions, fission reactions


produce energy in amounts vastly greater
than chemical reactions. Figure 5.15 helps
you understand this difference. Notice the
energy requirement for holding together
nuclei. Everyday reactions such as dissolving,
ionization, melting, and burning involve a
small fraction of the energy of nuclear
reactions

Fission reactions tend to proceed in one of


two ways. In an uncontrolled fission reaction,
high-energy neutrons hit unfissioned nuclei
that then split apart. These split-apart nuclei
are produced along with more neutrons.
These neutrons hit unfissioned nuclei,
causing an ever increasing number of fission
reactions. Such an explosive increase in the
rate of reaction is called a chain reaction.

If there is enough fissionable material to


sustain the chain reaction, a mighty explosion
takes place. The minimum amount of material
required to produce an atomic explosion is called the critical mass. The critical mass of
fissionable material for some atomic bombs is only 45 lb.

**Stop! Summarize what you have read on page 52 of your notebooks!


A controlled fission reaction does not explode. Engineers control the number of fission
neutrons carefully. No chain reaction starts because materials such as water surround the
fissionable material and absorb many of the extra neutrons. Nuclear energy power plants use
controlled fission reactions to produce heat that boils water, which turns turbines to produce
electricity.

Several products from fission reactions include radioactive isotopes with very long half-lives.
These materials are difficult to dispose of safely. They form nuclear waste. One option includes
burying radioactive wastes underground. While scientists search for a method to handle the
waste from nuclear reactions, the benefit of nuclear reactions is that tremendous amount of
energy are produced. As you might expect, engaging debate continues regarding the use of
nuclear power.

**Stop! Summarize what you have read on page 52 of your notebooks!

CH. 4 Explain Reflect and Connect (pg 53)


Write answers to the following questions in your notebook. Make sure to copy the question OR
summarize it in your answer.

1. How would you describe the best fit line of your radioactive decay simulation (Part 1)?
Note: You might use words like flat, curved upward, or up-and-down.
2. Suppose you start with 1000 grams of carbon-14. How many grams would you have in
5,715 years? In 17,145 years? Show any math work you used to determine your
answers. Hint: Look for the half-life of carbon-14 in the table you read in Part 2.
3. Carbon-14 is in all living materials, like trees and skin. Pretend you are an archeologist.
You’ve discovered ancient campfire charcoal. How would you use your knowledge of
radioactive decay and half-life to determine how old the campfire site is?
4. How is radioactive decay different from and similar to nuclear fusion?
5. Write a radioactive decay reaction showing how Pa-234 decays to U-234.
6. Determine the product element when Th-230 decays by alpha emission.
7. Compare and contrast these three terms: ionizing radiation, penetrating power, and
background radiation.

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