Week 5 ( Radioactivity 1)
Week 5 ( Radioactivity 1)
5 minutes
STARTER ACTIVITY
1. An atoms contains electrons, protons and neutrons. Which of these particles
a. are outside the nucleus
b. are uncharged
c. Have a negative charge
d. are much lighter than the others.
• It is emitted when a neutron in the nucleus suddenly changes into a proton - an electron is
created in order to balance the positive charge of the proton.
(iii) Uranium – 238 decays to thorium – 230 by emitting two 𝛼 − particles and two
𝛽 −particles.
𝟐𝟑𝟖
𝟗𝟐𝑼 → 𝟐 𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆 + 𝟐 −𝟏𝟎𝒆 + 𝟐𝟑𝟎𝟗𝟎𝑻𝒉 + Energy
TYPES OF RADIOACTIVITY
2. ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITY:
Is a phenomenon in which an ordinary material not normally radioactive is made radioactive by
bombarding it with radioactive particles.
Examples
(i) Non radioactive aluminum is bombarded with an 𝛼 − particle to produce a non – stable
phosphorus which disintegrates spontaneously into sable silicon.
4 30 1 30 0 1
2𝐻𝑒 + 2713𝐴𝑙 → 15𝑃 + 0𝑛 → 14𝑆𝑖 + 1𝑒 + 0𝑛 + 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦
Helium Aluminum Phosphorus Neutron Silicon Positron Neutron
• Although radiation can cause cancer, it is also highly effective at treating it.
• Radiation can kill living cells. Some cells, such as bacteria and cancer cells, are more
susceptible to radiation than others.
• (Gamma rays are used because they are able to penetrate the body, reaching the tumour).
• The beams are moved around to minimise harm to healthy tissue whilst still being aimed at the
tumour.
APPLICATIONS OF RADIOACTIVITY
STERILIZATION
• Medical instruments are sterilized by exposing them to gamma rays.
• Gamma rays are far more effective at killing bacteria than either
boiling water or chemical treatment and are able to penetrate the
instruments reaching areas that may otherwise not be properly
sterilised.
APPLICATIONS OF RADIOACTIVITY
TRACERS
• Tracers are radioactive isotopes that can be added to some fluid so that the flow of that fluid can
be monitored.
In all cases:
✓ The amount used is kept to a minimum to reduce people’s exposure to radiation.
✓ Isotopes are chosen that have short half-lives of around a few hours: long enough to carry out the
procedure, but not so long that they cause long-term harm.
✓ Gamma radiation is used as it is highly penetrating (you can detect it) and low ionising
(minimising harm).
APPLICATIONS OF RADIOACTIVITY
MEASURING THE THICKNESS OF MATERIALS
• As a material moves above a beta
source, the particles that are able to
penetrate it can be monitored using a
detector.
• If the material gets thicker more particles
will be absorbed, meaning that less will
get through.
• If the material gets thinner the opposite
happens.
• This allows the machine to make
adjustments to keep the thickness of the
material constant.