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Radioactivity
Homework 01 Nuclear radiation & its biological effects

! ! Read through the information below, then for each of the 10 questions Write the letter (A, B, C or D) with the correct statement into your homework book ! ! MY DEFINITION !
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/topic_quicklearn.asp? loc=ql&topic_id=7&quicklearn_id=3&subject_id=16&ebt=319&ebn=&ebs=&ebl=&elc=4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics/radioactivity/backgroundradiationrev1.shtml

Ionising radiation can be defined as high energy radiation which has the enough energy so that when it interacts with an atom or molecule it is capable of producing ionisation. This happens because when the atom or molecule its hit by radiation bound electrons from the orbit are removed making the atom to become charged or ionised.

This radiation come in three types: alpha, beta and gamma. Some examples of ionising radiation are cosmic and ultraviolet rays coming form the sun. Also it has several uses for instance sterilisation of medical tools using gamma radiation as they are capable of going through these objects. Sterilisation means killing every living thing of an object, gamma rays destroy the cells of living organisms making them die.

http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/about/what_is_ir/en/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2011/radiation/ treatmentrev2.shtml http://www.nordion.com/our_products/medical_device_sterilization.asp

! ! Ionising radiation ! ! !

X-rays, gamma rays, alpha particles and beta particles can all be described as ionising radiation. When they collide with neutral atoms or molecules, these can become charged or ionised. Ionisation of DNA molecules in living cells, can cause cancer. Ionised DNA can no longer control cell division cells divide again and again until a cancerous tumour forms Alpha, beta and gamma particles can be distinguished by their ability to ionise atoms and molecules, and also by their ability to penetrate materials

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alpha
increasingly ionising

beta
increasingly penetrating

gamma
The following diagram shows what is needed to absorb the different types of nuclear radiation

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Alpha radiation Beta radiation Gamma radiation

Stopped! by paper Stopped by! aluminium Stopped by thick lead

! Paper ! ! ! ! ! Background radiation ! !

Aluminium

Lead

We are continually exposed to low levels of radiation from natural sources, and from the result of human activities. Sources of this background radiation are cosmic rays from the sun (these are partially absorbed by the atmosphere we are less protected at higher altitudes) some rocks (eg. granite) contain uranium which decays to release radioactive radon gas, and also gamma rays our food medical techniques

! Detecting radiation ! !

Radioactive sources give out radiation all the time, so they must be stored very carefully. In schools, they are stored in lead-lined containers, because lead is very dense and absorbs most of the radiation emitted. A Geiger counter is used to detect radiation from a radioactive source. The Geiger counter consists of a tube of argon gas. Each time an argon
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atom is ionised, a pulse of current flows around a circuit and increases the reading on a counter

! ! Biological effects of ionising radiation !

dose high (eg. accident) whole body exposed high to limited area of skin death

short term

long term possible cancer possible cancer

reddening no effect

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low

Alpha particles cause us no harm when they are outside the body, because they cant penetrate our outer layers of dead skin. If they are taken inside the body (eg. into the lungs), they can be very damaging. Beta particles and gamma rays are more harmful, because they can penetrate the skin.

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Q1 A Ionising radiation collides with neutral atoms or molecules, and these can then become charged or ionised. Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays are all ionising B When radiation collides with ions, it is called ionising radiation C Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays are all ionising, because they all collide with atoms, which then form ions. Microwaves are also strongly ionising D Radio waves and infrared are both ionising radiation. They are both more dangerous to our health than gamma rays

Q2 A When DNA molecules in living cells become ionised, they stop the cells dividing. This can lead to cancer B When DNA is caused to divide in a controlled way, a cancerous tumour starts to form C When DNA molecules are prevented from ionising, cancer may result D When DNA molecules in living cells become ionised, they cause the cells to divide, uncontrollably. Uncontrolled cell division produces a cancerous tumour

Q3 A Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays are all ionising to The same extent B Beta particles are most ionising, followed by alpha particles, with gamma rays being the least ionising C Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays are all ionising to different extents. Alpha particles are most ionising, followed by beta particles, with gamma rays being the least ionising D Beta particles are most ionising, followed by gamma rays, with alpha particles being the least ionising

Q4 A Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays all penetrate materials to the same extent B Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays all penetrate materials to different extents. Gamma rays are most penetrating, followed by beta particles, with alpha particles being the least penetrating C Gamma rays are most penetrating, followed by alpha particles, with beta particles being the least penetrating D Alpha particles are most penetrating, followed by gamma rays, with beta particles being the least penetrating

Q5 A Alpha particles can be absorbed by a thin sheet of paper, beta particles by a few millimetres of aluminium, and gamma rays by many centimetres of lead B Alpha particles can be absorbed by a thin sheet of aluminium, beta particles by a few millimetres of paper, and gamma rays by many centimetres of lead C Alpha particles can be absorbed by a thin sheet of paper, beta particles
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by a few millimetres of lead, and gamma rays by many centimetres of aluminium D Lead will absorb most types of radiation, apart from gamma rays Q6 A Background radiation is entirely due to human activities B We are continually exposed to low levels of radiation from natural sources, and from the result of human activities. This radiation is called background radiation C Background radiation is entirely due to natural radioactive sources D We are continually exposed to high levels of radiation, which result from human activities

Q7 A Background radiation can come from the sun in the form of rays of visible light, from some rocks (eg. granite), from our food and also from the use of modern medical techniques B Background radiation can come from the sun in the form of cosmic rays, from some rocks (eg. limestone), from our food and also from the use of modern medical techniques C Background radiation can come from the sun in the form of cosmic rays, from some rocks (eg. granite), from our food and also from the use of modern medical techniques D Background radiation can come from the sun in the form of cosmic rays, from some rocks (eg. granite), from our food and also from the use of out-dated medical techniques

Q8 A Radioactive sources are stored in a paper-lined containers, because paper absorbs most of the radiation emitted B In a school, a radioactive source will be stored in an aluminium-lined container, because lead absorbs most of the radiation emitted C Radiation must be stored carefully, but a leak will be detected by either an ammeter, or a voltmeter D In a school, a radioactive source will be stored in a lead-lined container, because lead absorbs most of the radiation emitted. To detect radiation, we use a Geiger counter Q9 A Exposing the whole body to a high dose of radiation, will result in a nasty headache B Exposing the whole body to a high dose of radiation, will result in death. A high dose to a limited area of skin, will cause reddening similar to sunburn, with the possibility of cancer in the longer term C Exposing the whole body to a high dose of radiation, will result in death. A high dose to a limited area of skin, will cause nothing worse than temporary sunburn D Cancer will result from even the smallest exposure to nuclear radiation Q10 A Beta particles dont penetrate the outer layers of dead skin, but can be very damaging if taken inside the body
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B Alpha particles are the most dangerous, as they are most penetrating C Alpha particles dont penetrate the outer layers of dead skin, but can be very damaging if taken inside the body. Beta particles and gamma rays are more dangerous, because they are more penetrating D Gamma rays dont penetrate the outer layers of dead skin, and so are the safest type of radiation

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