SCIENCE FORM 3

MRSMKBTSUA
(JA)

HISTORY OF RADIOACTIVE
NAME DISCOVERY ACHIEVEMENT
Wilhem Rontgen 1895, Discover X-ray Nobel price in Physics 1901
unintentionally

Henri Becquerel 1896, Discover radioacive Nobel price in Physics 1903

compound, Uranium that can
blacken a photographic plate
even in the dark.

Marie and Pierre Curie
1897, Discover radioacive Nobel price in Physics 1903
radiation through ionising
power and not through
photographic effect.
Successfully extracted
polonium and radium.

Radioactive decay is a random and spontaneous process where an unstable nucleus emits
radioactive radiation until the nucleus becomes more stable.
Example:

• Carbon-14
• Cobalt-60
• Iodine-131
• Radon-222
• Phosphorus-32
 SCIENCE FORM 3
MRSMKBTSUA
(JA)

RADIOACTIVITY . Three type of Radioactive Decay :

1. ALPHA
2. BETA
3. GAMMA
 SCIENCE FORM 3
MRSMKBTSUA
(JA)
ATOMIC STRUCTURE OF ATOM

neutral

positively charges (+)

-
: negatively charges ( )

• SUB-ATOMIC particle : PROTON, NEUTRON and ELECTRON

• All atom are neutral because number or positively charge particle (PROTON) are equal
with number or negatively charge particle (ELECTRON)
• Atom can change to positive ions by losing electron
• Atom can change to negative ions by gaining electron

***** (REFER PERIODIC TABLE for Symbol, name and Proton Number of atom) *****

NEUTRAL
ATOM

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
ION ION

Usually METAL Usually NON-METAL

Na+ Cl-
Mg2+ O2-
Al3+
 SCIENCE FORM 3
MRSMKBTSUA
(JA)

HALF-LIFE OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY

Time taken for the number of undecayed nuclei to be reduced to half of its original number.

QUESTION:
1. Pa-234 decays to U-234 by emitting beta radiation. If the half-life of Pa-234
is 5.2 hours, what is the remaining mass of Pa-234 after 20.8 hours given its
original mass is 32g
 SCIENCE FORM 3
MRSMKBTSUA
(JA)

IONISING AND NON-IONISING RADIATION

• Radiation is classified as being either non-ionizing or ionizing.
• Non-ionizing radiation is longer wavelength/lower frequency lower energy.
• Ionizing radiation is short wavelength/high frequency higher energy.

Cell phones emit low levels of non-

ionizing radiation when in use. The type
of radiation emitted by cell phones is also
referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy.
As stated by the National Cancer Institute,
"there is currently no consistent evidence
that non-ionizing radiation increases
cancer risk in humans.
 SCIENCE FORM 3
MRSMKBTSUA
(JA)
RADIATION

IONISING NON-IONISING

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Sources

Natural Man-made

Example: Example:
1.______________________________ 1.________________________________
2.______________________________ 2.________________________________

3.________________________________

4.________________________________

Penetration power

Deflection by electric field

 SCIENCE FORM 3
MRSMKBTSUA
(JA)

USES OF RADIOACTIVE RADIATION IN DAILY LIFE

EXAMPLE :
1. Monitoring the thickness of metal sheets in industry

2. Detect the age of fossil