Ionising radiation

and health hazards

Ionising radiation and health hazards

What is radiation? Main kinds of ionising λ (m) E (eV) Mai

radiation 1 pm 1.24 GeV The p
A candle radiates light and heat in all directions and can

Gamma rays
The diagram shows the of ion
illuminate a room. From its source the light appears to travel 10 pm 124 MeV
contri
wavelength and energy of
in straight lines, called rays, and if something blocks the path 100 pm 12.4 MeV Irelan
electromagnetic waves on a
a shadow is formed. Light is a form of radiation. groun

Ionising radiation
logarithmic scale; photons on 1 pm 1.24 MeV
the next step up have ten times urani
When sunlight is dispersed by a prism a spectrum is formed as Newton more energy and may cause ten 10 pm 124 keV have

X-rays
found in 1665. In 1800 Thomas Young showed that light was some kind of times more ionisations. Note that —at
100 pm 12.4 keV
wave and he measured the wavelength of light of different colours; they the term ‘gamma ray’ refers to Both
range from about 750 nm (red) to about 400 nm (violet). electromagnetic radiation coming 1 nm 1.24 keV
It is ve
Also in 1800 Herschel discovered, using a thermometer, that the spectrum from atomic nuclei; they are 10 nm 124 eV radon

UV
contained some heat radiation in the dark area beyond the red; we now call otherwise identical with high sourc
100 nm 12.4 eV

Visible
this infra-red radiation (IR). The following year (1801) Ritter showed that energy X-rays. from t
there was some form of radiation beyond the violet end of the spectrum 1 µm 1.24 eV

Non-ionising radiation
The kinetic energy of alpha
which could cause chemical change faster than any of the visible colours. particles is generally between 10 µm f (Hz) Mea

IR
It is called ultra-violet radiation (UV). 5 and 7 MeV while that of beta
100 µm 3 THz The fi
particles generally ranges from
Opt
What is ionising radiation? 100 keV to 20 MeV. However the 1 mm 300 GHz

Microwaves
energy of cosmic rays may be 10 mm 30 GHz
We now know that visible light, IR and UV form a small part of a much thousands of times greater but
wider spectrum of electromagnetic waves. Those with shorter wavelengths is commonly about 300 MeV. 100 mm 3 GHz
transmit more energy and often interact with matter as particles called 1m 300 MHz
photons.
Non-ionising 10 m 30 MHz
Electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is less than about 300 nm Opt
radiation
Radio waves

is called ionising radiation because it can knock electrons off some atoms 100 m 3 MHz
and molecules causing ions to form, or to be more precise, ion pairs. Ionising The boundary between ionising 1 km 300 kHz
radiation can damage bio-molecules such as DNA, causing cells to die and non-ionising radiation is not
or malfunction. universally agreed but is often
10 km 30 kHz Opt
taken to be 100 nm (i.e. with
photon energy of about 12 eV).
Ionising particles Radiation whose wavelength is greater than that is classed as non-ionising
In the 1890s certain materials were found to emit a form of highly ionising and includes UV-C, UV-B, UV-A, visible light, infrared, microwaves, radio
radiation which, unlike light, was strongly affected by a magnet and so was waves and very low frequency radio waves from power lines (50 Hz).
The s
different from electromagnetic waves. Some materials emitted positively The fact that they may not cause ionisation does not mean that these from t
charged particles called alpha particles. Others emitted negatively charged radiations are always harmless. In large doses they can cause body
particles, or beta particles. Some materials also emitted high energy tissues to heat up faster that blood flow can dissipate the heat. Sunbathing
electromagnetic waves called gamma rays. All these materials are said can cause sunburn. Even with sunscreens the skin is damaged; the
to be radioactive. tanning process is the body’s reaction to DNA damage in skin cells.
In 1912 Victor Hess found — ascending above 5000 metres by balloon — that Exposure to UV-A can lead to skin cancer.
The a
extremely ionising radiation increased with altitude and that it did not come four m
from the Sun. This cosmic radiation comes from outside our solar system some
and at least some of it is extra-galactic It is by far the most strongly ionising home
radiation known. About 90% of it consists of protons, often travelling at over
99% of the speed of light. It also contains alpha particles and lesser amounts A rad
of heavier nuclei, neutrons and positrons. Prote
and th
The speed of a wave is equal to the f = c/λ indica
frequency (f) multiplied by the wavelength
(λ). For electromagnetic waves this is E = hf
written as c=f.λ where c is the speed. Com
Rearranging this equation we get f = c/λ.
E = hc/λ joules
The a
‘Thoron’ is a
The energy per photon is given by E = hf = E = hc/eλ electron volts ‘Radon’ refers to avera
traditional name for
radon 222 (222 Rn). receiv
hc/λ, where E is the energy in joules, f is It is a decay product
radon 220 (220 Rn).
the frequency in hertz and h is Plank’s It is a decay is clea
of uranium 238 (238
constant (6.6 × 10 −34 J s). A useful alternative unit of energy for photons is U) with a half life of
product of thorium contri
232 ( Th) and has
232
expos
the electron volt. It is found by dividing the energy in joules by the charge 3.8 days.
a half life of 55.6
on an electron, e (1.602 × 10 −19 C). (There are over 30 that w
seconds.
isotopes of radon.)
 Ionising radiation and health hazards

E (eV) Main sources of ionising radiation

4 GeV The pie-chart below shows the average contribution from different sources
of ionising radiation to the average Irish person. Radon makes the biggest
4 MeV
contribution and is the cause of about 250 lung cancer cases each year in
4 MeV Ireland. Radon is a radioactive gas that typically seeps into houses from the
ground. It is a product of the radioactive decay of naturally occurring
4 MeV
uranium or thorium. Since 1998, all new buildings in high radon areas must
24 keV have a radon barrier installed and, in other areas, a standby radon sump
— a type of fan that draws air from under the floor and vents it to the outside. The EPA’s Office of Radiological Protection (ORP) is
.4 keV
Both methods can be used to reduce radon entering the building. responsible for ensuring that people and the
24 keV
It is very easy to reduce the radiation dose from radon by reducing the levels of environment in Ireland are protected from the harmful
124 eV radon in the home. There is little that we can do to reduce our exposure to other effects of ionising radiation.
2.4 eV sources of ionising radiation such as gamma rays, cosmic rays and radiation
from the buildings we inhabit, the food we eat and indeed from our own bodies. The ORP is a successor to the Radiological Protection
.24 eV Institute of Ireland which merged with the EPA in 2014.
f (Hz) Measurement of ionising radiation
3 THz The first thing to decide is what exactly to measure.
The key functions of the ORP are:
0 GHz Option 1: How radioactive is a piece of material; i.e., how many nuclear
disintegrations occur in it every second. • Educating the public on the risks of ionising
0 GHz
Unit: becquerel (Bq); 1 Bq = 1 disintegration per second radiation
3 GHz This does not indicate how much radiation a person might
• Contributing to Government policy on radiation
0 MHz absorb; gamma rays would be much less likely to be absorbed
than alpha or beta particles. protection matters
0 MHz
Option 2: Measure the amount energy absorbed per kilogram due to • Licensing and regulating the possession and use
3 MHz radiation; this is the ‘absorbed dose’. of ionising radiation in medicine, industry, research
00 kHz Unit: gray (Gy): 1 gray = 1 joule per kilogram (1 J kg −1) and education
30 kHz Option 3: A calculated measure of the potential damage to body tissues • Maintaining a national laboratory for the
due to radiation. measurement of radioactivity levels in the
Unit: sievert (Sv): 1 sievert = 5.5% risk of developing cancer as a result environment
nising of radiation exposure. Repeated doses of 1 Sv over minutes or
adio hours would be likely to lead to death within a few weeks. • Where appropriate, to provide, or oversee the
provision of, specialist radiation protection services
The sievert represents the biological effect of an absorbed dose. It is derived
from the gray but employs a weighting that varies with the type of radiation: such as personal dosimetry, radioactivity
measurement, instrument calibration, radon
1 Gy of gamma rays, X-rays or beta particles = 1 Sv measurements and product certification
thing
1 Gy of alpha particles = 20 Sv
• Assisting in the development of national plans
1 Gy of protons = 2 Sv
to deal with nuclear accidents and incidents
The average radiation dose received by people in Ireland each year is about
four millisieverts; 0.004 Sv = 4 mSv = 4000 µSv (microsieverts). However, • Conducting and promoting research on a range
some people receive ten times that dose due to high radon levels in their of areas relevant to radiation protection
homes. The greater the dose, the greater the risk.
• Driving forward programmes of radon
A radon test kit can be obtained from the EPA, Office of Radiological
measurement and remediation in homes,
Protection. It contains sealed plastic film which is left in place for 30 days
and then returned to EPA. When the film is developed the level of radiation is workplaces and schools
indicated by the number of tracks left on it by ionising radiation. • Representing Ireland on international bodies
dealing with radiation protection and nuclear
Common radiation doses and risk matters
The accompanying table lists some 1 Dental X-ray 5 μSv • Cooperating with radiation protection authorities
on’ is a
ame for average radiation doses commonly and other relevant organisations overseas.
received by people in Ireland. Radon 1 Dublin-London return flight 8 μSv
220
Rn).
a decay is clearly the most significant 1 Chest X-ray 20 μSv For further infromation visit: www.epa.ie/radiation
horium contributor to our overall radiation
nd has exposure but fortunately it is the one Annual cosmic ray dose 350 μSv
of 55.6 Find this and other lessons on www.sta.ie
that we can most easily avoid.
conds. Annual radon dose (avg.) 2230 μSv
 Ionising
Ionisingradiation
radiation
and
andhealth
healthhazards
hazards
Ionising radiation and health hazards

Syllabus
Syllabusreferences
references Student
StudentActivities
Activities Exa
Ex
The
Themain
mainsyllabus
syllabus
references
references
forfor
the
the
lesson
lesson
are:
are: 1.1. Find
Find
the
the
frequency
frequencyofof
electromagnetic
electromagneticwave
wavewith
withthe
the
following
following Leav
Lea
wavelengths:
wavelengths:11pm,
pm,11 nm,
nm,11
µm,
µm,
11m.m.
Leaving
LeavingCertificate
CertificatePhysics
Physics(p.(p.
12;
12;
pp.
pp.
21−22)
21−22) Wha
Wh
2.2. Calculate
Calculatethe
the
energy
energy
inin
joules
joules
ofof
each
each
ofof
the
the
waves
waves
inin
Q.Q.
1.1. Fren
Fre
• • Electromagnetic
Electromagneticspectrum:
spectrum:Relative
Relativepositions
positionsofof
radiations
radiations
inin
terms
terms radio
rad
ofof
wave-length
wave-length
and
and
frequency.
frequency.
Detection
Detectionofof
UVUV
andandIRIR
radiation.
radiation. 3.3. Calculate
Calculate
the
the
energy
energy
inin
electron
electron volts
voltsofof
each
each ofof
the
the
waves
waves
inin
Q.Q.
1.1.
• • Ionising
Ionising
radiation
radiation
and
andhealth
health
hazards:
hazards:General
Generalhealth
health
hazards
hazards
inin (The
(The
charge
chargeonon
anan
electron
electron
is is
1.6
1.6
××1010 C.)
–19–19
C.) The
Thed
use
use
ofof
ionising
ionising
radiations,
radiations,
e.g.
e.g.
X-rays,
X-rays,
nuclear
nuclear
radiation.
radiation. types
typ
4.4. The
The average
average energy
energy
required
required
toto
produce
produceananion
ionpair
pair
is is
about
about
3535
eV.
eV. radio
rad
• • Environmental
Environmental radiation.
radiation.The
Theeffect
effectofof
ionising
ionising radiation
radiation
onon
humans
humans What
What is is
the
the
maximum
maximum number
numberofof
ion
ion
pairs
pairs
that
that
aa 55MeV
MeV alpha
alpha radia
rad
depends
depends ononthe
the
type
typeofof
radiation,
radiation,the
theactivity
activityofofthe
the
source
source(in(in
Bq),
Bq), particle
particle could
couldproduce?
produce? diagr
dia
the
the
time
time
ofof
exposure,
exposure,and
and the
the
type
typeofof
tissue
tissueirradiated.
irradiated. ionis
ion
5.5. The
Themost
most common
common bonds
bonds inin
DNA
DNA are
are
carbon-hydrogen
carbon-hydrogen (C-H),
(C-H),
• • The
Theelectron:
electron:
The
Theelectron
electron
asas
the
the
indivisible
indivisible
quantity
quantity
ofof
charge.
charge. carbon-carbon
carbon-carbon (C-C),
(C-C),and and carbon-nitrogen
carbon-nitrogen (C-N)
(C-N)and
andtheir
theirbond
bond
Units
Unitsofof
energy:
energy:
eV,
eV,
keV,
keV,
MeV,
MeV,GeV.
GeV. Nam
Na
energies
energies are
are413,
413,348,
348, andand 308
308
kJkJmol
mol respectively.
−1 −1
respectively.Calculate
Calculate the
the radia
rad
• • Radioactivity:
Radioactivity: Experimental
Experimental evidence
evidence forfor
three
threekinds
kindsofof
radiation:
radiation:
byby maximum
maximum wavelengths
wavelengths required
required toto
break
break each
eachofof
these
thesebond
bond types.
types. whic
wh
deflection
deflectioninin
electric
electric
oror
magnetic
magnetic fields
fields
oror ionisation
ionisationoror
penetration.
penetration. What
What is is
their
theirposition
positioninin thetheelectromagnetic
electromagnetic spectrum
spectrum (infrared,
(infrared,
Nature
Nature and
and properties
propertiesofof
alpha,
alpha,
beta
betaand
and gamma
gamma emissions.
emissions. visible,
visible,
ultraviolet...)?
ultraviolet...)? Grea
Gre
(1(1
mole
mole == 6.022
6.022 x 10
x 10 particles)
23 23
particles)
(
Science
Scienceandand
Technology
Technology inin
Action
Action
is is
also
also
widely
widely
used
used
byby
Transition
Transition
Year
Year
classes.
classes. 6.6. Make
Makeaaposter
posteroror
computer
computerpresentation
presentationtoto
summarise
summarise the
the
properties
properties
ofof
non-ionising
non-ionisingand
andionising
ionising
radiation
radiation
(electromagnetic,
(electromagnetic,
(
cosmic
cosmicand
andradioactive
radioactive
decay).
decay).
Learning
LearningOutcomes
Outcomes 7. 7. Make
Make aaposter
poster oror
computer
computer
presentation
presentationtoto
describe
describe the
thefollowing
following
(

Learning
Learning
On
Oncompletion
completion
Outcomes
Outcomes
ofof
this
this
lesson,
lesson,
students
students
should
should
bebe
able
able
to:to:
radiation
radiation
units:
units:
becquerel
becquerel
(Bq),
(Bq),
gray
gray
(Gy)
(Gy)and
andsievert
sievert(Sv).
(Sv).

On
Oncompletion
completionofof
the
the
lesson
lesson
the
the
student
student
should
should
bebe
able
able
to:to: 8.8. The
Theaverage
average radiation
radiation dose
dose ofofpeople
peopleinin
Ireland
Irelandis is
about
about
4000
4000µSvµSv Leav
Lea
while
while forforpeople
peopleinin the
theUKUKit it
is is
2600
2600µSv.
µSv. The
Theworldwide
worldwide average
average
• • Explain
Explainwhat
whatis is
meant
meantbyby
the
the
terms:
terms:
radiation,
radiation,electromagnetic
electromagnetic dose
dose perper person
person is is2800
2800 µSv.
µSv. (
wave,
wave,wavelength,
wavelength, frequency,
frequency,photon
photonenergy,
energy,radioactivity
radioactivity Use
Use available
available data
data resources
resources toto
explain
explain
whywhythe
theaverage
averageradiation
radiation (
• • Distinguish
Distinguish between
betweenionising
ionising
radiation
radiation
and
and
non-ionising
non-ionising
radiation
radiation dose
dose inin Ireland
Irelandis is
relatively
relativelyhigh.
high.
(
and
and give
give
examples
examples
ofof
each
each
• • Correctly
Correctlyuse
usethe
the
equations
equations
c=c= and
f.λf.λ and
EE==
h.fh.f (
• • List
List
the
thecontribution
contributionofof
various
various
sources
sources
toto
the
the
average
average
radiation
radiation
dose
dose ofof
people
peopleinin
Ireland
Ireland
• • Outline
Outlinesome
someunits
unitsused
usedtoto
measure
measure
radiation
radiation
/ radiation
/ radiation
dose.
dose.
True/False
True/FalseQuestions
Questions
Leav
Lea
a)a) Radio
Radiowaves
wavestravel
travel
faster
faster
than
than
light.
light. T TF F
Distin
Dis
b)b) The
Theenergy
energyofof
aaphoton
photonis is
proportional
proportional
toto
itsits
frequency.
frequency. T TF F
General
GeneralLearning
LearningPoints
Points c)c) Electromagnetic
Electromagneticwaves
waveswith
withshorter
shorterwavelength
wavelengthhave
havehigher
higher AAfrefr
charg
cha
energy.
energy. T TF F
These
Theseare
are
additional
additionalrelevant
relevant
points
points
which
which
are
are
used
used
toto
extend
extend Expla
Exp
knowledge
knowledge and
and
facilitate
facilitate
discussion.
discussion. d)d) More
More than
than
85%
85%ofof
the
the
average
averagedose
doseofof
ionising
ionising
radiation
radiation
inin
Expla
Exp
Ireland
Irelandcomes
comesfrom
fromnatural
natural
sources.
sources. T TF F
• • Light
Light
is is
aavisible
visible
form
formofof
electromagnetic
electromagneticradiation;
radiation;
there
there
are
are
many
many
invisible
invisiblekinds
kindsofof
electromagnetic
electromagneticradiation.
radiation. e)e) Radon
Radonis is
aaradioactive
radioactive
gas.
gas. T TF F (

• • Ionising
Ionising
radiation
radiation
includes:
includes:UV,
UV,X-rays,
X-rays,cosmic
cosmicrays,
rays,
gamma
gamma
rays,
rays, f) f) Microwaves
Microwavescarry
carrymore
moreenergy
energythan
than
visible
visible
light.
light. T TF F (
alpha
alphaand
and
beta
betaparticles.
particles.
g)g) The
Thekinetic
kinetic
energy
energy
ofof
alpha
alpha
particles
particles
is is
generally
generally
more
more
than
than (
• • The
Theenergy
energy
ofof
photons
photonsis is
given
given
byby
EE== hc/λjoules
hc/λ joules
oror 1010
MeV.
MeV. T TF F
EE== hc/eλelectron
hc/eλ electron
volts.
volts. The
Thez
h)h) The
Thekinetic
kinetic
energy
energy
ofof
beta
beta
particles
particles
is is
generally
generally
more
more
than
than The
Thew
• • Radiation
Radiation
may
mayconsist
consistofof
electromagnetic
electromagnetic
waves
waves
oror
particles
particles
such
such
asas
alpha
alpha
oror
beta
beta
particles.
particles. 11
GeV.
GeV. T TF F Calcu
Ca
• • Ionising
Ionising
radiation
radiation
can
can
cause
cause
biological
biological
damage
damage
and
and
can
can
lead
lead
toto i) i) Gamma
Gamma radiation
radiation
is is
electromagnetic
electromagneticionising
ionising
radiation
radiation
that
that
(
cancer.
cancer. comes
comesfrom
fromradioactive
radioactive materials.
materials. T TF F
• • On
Onaverage
average
the
the
radiation
radiation
dose
dosereceived
received
byby
people
people
inin
Ireland
Ireland
is is (
about
about44
mSv
mSv(4000
(4000µSv)
µSv)mostly
mostly
from
from
radon.
radon. Check
Checkyour
youranswers
answerstoto
these
these
questions
questions
onon
www.sta.ie.
www.sta.ie.
• • The
Thegreater
greater
the
the
dose,
dose,
the
the
greater
greater
the
the
risk.
risk.
 Ionising radiation and health hazards

Examination
ExaminationQuestions
Questions Did
DidYou
YouKnow?
Know?
Leaving
LeavingCertificate
CertificatePhysics
Physics(OL)
(OL)
2004.
2004.
Q.Q.
1010 • • Prolonged
Prolonged exposure
exposure toto
sunlight
sunlightcauses
causes many
many paints
paints
and
anddyes
dyes
toto
What
Whatis is
radioactivity?
radioactivity?
Name
Namethe
the fade.
fade.This
This
is is
partly
partly
due
duetoto
the
the
effect
effect
ofof
the
the
ultraviolet
ultraviolet
component
component ofof
French
Frenchphysicist
physicistwho
whodiscovered
discovered sunlight
sunlight
onondyedye
molecules.
molecules. Other
Otherfactors
factors
are
arethe
the
exact
exactnature
nature
ofof
thethe
radioactivity
radioactivityin in
1896.
1896. dye
dye
and
andthe
theeffect
effect
ofof
heat
heat
ononthe
the
dyedye
molecules.
molecules.
1.. 1.
The
Thediagram
diagram illustrates
illustrates that
that
three
three • • The
Theenergy
energyrequired
requiredtoto
break
break chemical
chemical bonds
bondsis is
types
typesofof
radiation
radiation are
are
emitted
emitted from
from aa often
often
less
less
than
than3 eV
3 eV
(ca.
(ca.
300
300kJkJmolmol ) and
−1 −1
) and
soso
might
might
V.
eV. radioactive
radioactivesource.
source. Name
Name the
the bebe
broken
brokenbybyphotons
photonsofof
visible
visible
light.
light.
radiations
radiationslabelled
labelled X,X,
YY andandZZ in in
the
the
• • The
The
energy
energy ofof
solar
solar
UV-A
UV-Aradiation
radiation
that
that
reaches
reaches
the
the
diagram.
diagram.Which
Which one
oneis is
thethemost
most
ionising?
ionising? ground
ground
is is
3.10
3.10
eVeV
– 3.94
– 3.94
eVeV
(400
(400nmnm– 315
– 315
nm).
nm).
d • • Red
Reddyes
dyes reflect
reflectredred
light
light
and
and absorb
absorb thethehigher
higher
Name
Name a detector
a detectorofof
ionising
ionising
ehethe radiation.
radiation.
Outline
Outline
the
theprinciple
principle
onon energy
energy blue
bluelight
light
andand sosoare
are
more
morelikely
likelytoto
bebe
es.
pes. which
whichthe
the
detector
detectorworks.
works. damaged
damaged than
than blue
bluedyes.
dyes.TheThetypical
typicaleffect
effectcan
canbebe
, seen
seenin in
lower
lower image
image (right);
(right);
thethe
blue
blueis is
only
only
slightly
slightly
Great
Greatcare
care
has
has
toto
bebe
taken
taken
when
when
dealing
dealing
with
with
radioactive
radioactive
sources.
sources.
Give:
Give:
faded
fadedbut but
thetheother
othercolours
colours look
look
washed
washed out.
out.
(i)(i) two
two
precautions
precautionsthat
that
should
should
bebe
taken
taken
when
when
dealing
dealing
with
with
• •
radioactive
radioactive
sources;
sources;
tic,
,
(ii)(ii)one
one
use
use
ofof
a radioactive
a radioactive
source;
source;
Biographical
• Biographical
• Notes
Notes
(iii)(iii)one
one
harmful
harmful
effect
effect
ofof
radiation.
radiation.
ng Johann
JohannWilhelm
WilhelmRitter
Ritter(1776
(1776– –1810)
1810)
Johann
JohannRitter
Ritter
in in
hishis
short
short
lifelife
carried
carried
out
out
µSv
v Leaving
LeavingCertificate
CertificatePhysics
Physics(HL)
(HL)
2001,
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Q.Q.
3 (part)
3 (part) innumerable
innumerableexperiments
experiments and andmade
made several
several
e important
important
discoveries.
discoveries.
(i)(i) Give
Givetwo
two
differences
differences
between
between
X-rays
X-rays
and
and
cathode
cathode
rays.
rays.
HeHewas
was born
born in in
Zamienice
Zamienice in in
what
whatis is
now
nowPoland.
Poland.
non (ii)(ii)Name
Namethe
the
scientist
scientist
who
who
discovered
discovered
X-rays
X-rays AsAsa youth
a youth hehehad hadananinterest
interest in in
science.
science. HeHe
(iii)(iii)How
Howmight
mightcathode
cathode
rays
rays
bebe
detected?
detected? spent
spentsome
some time
time asasananapprentice
apprentice pharmacist
pharmacist
before
beforetaking
taking upupmedicine
medicine atatthe
theUniversity
University ofof
(vi)
(vi)The
Thework
workfunction
function ofof
zinc
zincis is
6.9×10
6.9×10 J. J.
–19–19
What
What is is
thethe
minimum
minimum Jena
Jenain in
1796
1796 atatthethe
age
age ofof20.
20. Following
Following Volta’s
Volta’s
frequency
frequency ofof
ultraviolet
ultravioletradiation
radiation that
that
willwill
cause
causethe thephotoelectric
photoelectric invention
invention ofof
thethebattery
battery in in
1800
1800 Ritter
Ritter
effect
effect
toto
occur
occurin in
zinc?
zinc?
(Planck
(Planck constant,
constant, h= h=6.6×10
6.6×10 J s.)
–34–34
J s.) independently
independently discovered
discovered thethephenomenon
phenomenon ofof
electrolysis
electrolysis andand electroplating.
electroplating. HeHealso
alsodeveloped
developedthe
the
dry
dry
battery.
battery.
InIn
1802
1802 hehecompared
comparedthe
the
effect
effect
ofof
different
different
parts
partsofofthe
the
colour
colour
spectrum
spectrum
Leaving
LeavingCertificate
CertificatePhysics
Physics(HL)
(HL)
2004,
2004,
Q.Q.
99
TF F ononsilver
silver
chloride
chloride
and
and
found
foundthat
that
some
some invisible
invisible
‘rays’
‘rays’
beyond
beyondthe
the
violet
violet
Distinguish
Distinguishbetween
between
photoelectric
photoelectric
emission
emission
and
and
thermionic
thermionic
emission.
emission. end
endofof
thethe
spectrum
spectrumhad
had
the
themost
mostrapid
rapid
effect.
effect.
TF F
AAfreshly
freshly
cleaned
cleaned piece
piece
ofof
zinc
zinc
metal
metalis is
placed
placedonon
the
the
cap
capofof
a negatively
a negatively HeHemarried
married
in in
1804
1804 butbut
waswas
unable
unable toto
properly
properly
fend
fend
forfor
hishis
wife
wife
and
and
four
four
charged
charged gold
gold
leaf
leaf
electroscope
electroscope and
and
illuminated
illuminatedwith
with
ultraviolet
ultraviolet
radiation.
radiation. children
children
and
and
dieddied
in in
poverty
poverty
in in
1810.
1810.
TF F
Explain
Explain
whywhythe
the
leaves
leavesofof
thethe
electroscope
electroscope collapse.
collapse.
Explain
Explainwhy
whythe
the
leaves
leaves
dodo
not
not
collapse
collapse
when
when
TF F
(i)(i) the
the
zinc
zinc
is is
covered
covered
byby
a piece
a piece
ofof
ordinary
ordinary
glass;
glass;
TF F Revise
ReviseThe
TheTerms
Terms
TF F (ii)(ii)the
the
zinc
zinc
is is
illuminated
illuminated
with
with
green
green
light;
light;
Can
Canyou
yourecall
recall
the
the
meaning
meaning ofof
the
the
following
following terms?
terms?
(iii)(iii)the
the
electroscope
electroscope
is is
charged
charged
positively.
positively. Revising
Revising terminology
terminologyisis
a powerful
a powerful aid
aid
toto
recall
recall
and
and
retention.
retention.
TF F The
Thezinc
zinc
metal
metalis is
illuminated
illuminated with
with
ultraviolet
ultraviolet
light
light
ofof
wavelength
wavelength
240
240
nm.
nm. alpha
alphaparticles,
particles,
becquerel,
becquerel, beta
betaparticles,
particles,cosmic
cosmic radiation,
radiation,dispersed,
dispersed,
The
Thework
workfunction
function ofofzinc
zinc
is is
4.3
4.3
eV.
eV.
electromagnetic
electromagnetic wave,
wave, electron,
electron,electron
electron volt,
volt,
extra-galactic,
extra-galactic,gamma
gamma
TF F Calculate
Calculate rays,
rays,
gray,
gray,
hertz,
hertz,illuminate,
illuminate,infra-red,
infra-red,ionising
ionisingradiation,
radiation,joule,
joule,
keV,
keV,
kinetic
kinetic
energy,
energy,logarithmic,
logarithmic, MeV,
MeV,millisievert,
millisievert,
nanometre,
nanometre, neutron,
neutron,nm,
nm,
(i)(i) the
the
threshold
threshold
frequency
frequency
ofof
zinc;
zinc;
TF F nuclear
nucleardisintegration,
disintegration, photons,
photons, positron,
positron,radiate,
radiate,radiation,
radiation,radioactive,
radioactive,
(ii)(ii)the
the
maximum
maximum kinetic
kinetic
energy
energy ofof anan emitted
emitted
electron.
electron. radon,
radon,radon
radonsump,
sump, rays,
rays,
sievert,
sievert,
spectrum,
spectrum, thorium,
thorium,ultra-violet,
ultra-violet,
(Planck’s
(Planck’sconstant
constant== 6.6
6.6××1010
–34–34
J s;
J s;
uranium,
uranium, UV-A,
UV-A,UV-B,
UV-B, UV-C,
UV-C, wavelength
wavelength
speed
speedofof
light
light
== 3.0
3.0
×× 1010 mm
8 8
s –1s;–11; eV
1 eV
==1.6
1.6
××1010 J)J)
–19–19

Check
Checkthe
the
Glossary
Glossary
ofof
terms
terms
for
for
this
this
lesson
lesson
onon
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