Understanding Radiation

• A stable nucleus has the right

number of protons and
neutrons so that it does not
break apart.
• If this number changes the
nucleus becomes unstable and
breaks apart sending out
ionizing radiation.
• When this happens alpha,
beta or gamma radiation is
given out.
• Non-ionizing radiation comes
from the lower energy end of
the em spectrum
Before we discuss ionising
radiation we need to
understand a bit about
isotopes.

Does anybody know anything

about isotopes?
 I have some
books here. I
would like you to
discuss in your
pairs the
meaning of
isotopes
 Isotopes
• A particular element has a unique atomic
number.
• This means that the number of protons in the
nucleus of that element is fixed.
• For example oxygen will always have the
atomic number 8. In other words it will
always have 8 protons in its nucleus.
 Isotopes
• However the number of neutrons can change.
• This means that an elements atomic mass can
change. (Remember Atomic mass = number of
protons + number of neutrons.)
• For instance Oxygen can have atomic masses
16, 17 or 18.
• Work out how many neutrons each isotope
has.
 When an element has
too many neutrons
compared to the number
of protons it becomes
unstable. Lets explore
this a bit.
When the nucleus of
an element is
unstable it can emit
alpha, beta or
gamma rays
Radiation
 The Helium Atom
• The Helium atom consists
of two protons, two
neutrons and 2 electrons.
• The protons and neutrons
are in the nucleus of the
atom.
• The electrons fly around
the nucleus
• Electrons are negatively
charged, protons are
positively charged.
The Alpha Particle
• The Alpha particle is the
same as a helium nucleus.
• The helium nucleus
consists of 2 protons and
2 neutrons.
• Because of the 2 protons
it has a charge of +2.
• A proton has a mass of 1
and so does a neutron.
 The Alpha Particle Continued
• As we saw earlier the
helium nucleus consists of
2 protons and 2 neutrons.
• Because of this it has a
mass of 4
• We say the alpha particle
is heavy
• It moves with a speed of
1/10 the speed of light.
The Alpha Particle and Ionization
The Alpha Particle and Ionization
• The alpha particle is
large compared to an
electron.
• If the alpha particle hits
an electron on an atom
it will easily knock it off.
• When this happens the
atom becomes ionized
in other words it
becomes charged.
 The Alpha Particle and Ionization
• It is for the reason
above that alpha
particles (α) are very
ionizing.
• However because α
particles are large and
heavy they cannot
penetrate material very
deeply.
 The Alpha Particle and Ionization
• For instance our skin
protects humans from α
particles.
• If we get α particles
inside our body they
can do a lot of damage.
Let us look at the kind of
damage alpha particles
can do if ingested
 Questions
• What is the charge on an α particle?
• What is the mass of an α particle?
• What does an α particle consist of?
• How fast does an α particle move?
• This is a challenge: Explain how an alpha
particle can cause ionization.
 The Beta
Particle

All right then, lets talk

about the beta particle.
 The beta
particle is
simply an How can
electron, but it that be sir?
comes from We all know
the nucleus of that there
an atom are only
protons and
neutrons in
the nucleus.
Let me ask you a question.
What is the charge on a
proton?

That’s right, it is positive?

 We know both protons and
neutrons are in the nucleus and
they are the same mass.
Have you ever wondered why
neutrons do not have a charge?
We know that the proton has a
positive charge and has a mass
of 1.
 If you squash an
electron into a proton,
what do you think the
charge would be?

The proton with its

positive charge and
the electron with its
negative charge add
up to 0.
 The Neutron.
• A neutron is a proton with an electron
squashed into it.
• The electron neutralises the positive charge of
a proton.
• The electron adds no mass to the neutron.
• It is the electron that forms the neutron that
becomes a beta particle.
 Questions
1. What is the charge on a proton?
2. What is the charge on a neutron?
3. What is the mass of a proton?
4. What is the mass of a neutron?
5. Explain how the neutron has no charge.
 The Beta Particle
• A beta particle (β) is an electron.
• Because it is an electron it has a charge of -1.
• It is also very small. You need about 1700
electrons to equal the mass of 1 proton.
• A beta particle travels faster than the alpha
particle. The beta particle travels at 9/10 the
speed of light.
• Although it travels a lot faster than an α particle it
is a lot smaller and so has less ionization effects.
 The Gamma Ray
• The gamma ray (ϒ) is a very high energy ray.
• It is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• It travels at the speed of light.
• It can only be stopped by thick concrete or
thick lead.
• Because it passes easily through most things it
does not ionize very greatly.
• It has no charge.
 The Uses Of Ionizing Radiation
•Radioactive tracers
•Sterilising
•Thickness Control
•Checking welds
All can be found on page 352 of Keith
Johnson
•Alpha particles and fire alarms
 Questions
• Where are protons and neutrons found?
• What is the charge on a proton?
• What is the charge on an electron?
• What is the mass of a proton?
• What is the mass of a neutron?
• What does an alpha particle consist of?
• What is the mass of an alpha particle?
• How fast does an alpha particle travel?
• What is the mass of an electron compared to a proton?
• Calculate how much smaller an electron is than an alpha particle?
• Explain why an alpha particle is a strong ioniser.
• What is a beta particle?
 Questions
• What is the charge of a beta particle?
• How fast does it travel?
• Explain why it does not ionise very strongly.
• What is a gamma ray?
• What is the charge on a gamma ray?
• What is the speed of a gamma ray?
• What stops an alpha particle, a beta particle
and a gamma ray?