Ionising Radiation: Name

given to Alpha and Beta

Particles, neutrons that
have been released from
the nucleus and gamma and
X-rays. Is damaging to
humans because it can
cause damage to DNA or
the mechanisms controlling
cell division causing cancers
Half-Life: time taken for
of the nuclei to decay to the
next element in decay
chain.
Activity:
activity is measured in Bq
and means that every sec
that number of nuclei
decay.
Radioactive Nuclei are
unstable:due to an excess
no. of protons/neutrons or
an unstable configuration
of nucleus.
Isotopes:of the same
element are chemically
identical but physically
different.
Chain Reactions: where one
or more nuclear reaction
causes one or more to
occur.
Genetic effects: happen to
the person affecteds
offspring
Somatic effects: happen to
the person affected.
Positive Ions: form when
electrons are removed from
a neutral atom.
Negative Ions: form when
electrons are gained or lost
Decay Chain:radioactive
decay of different discrete
radioactive decay products
as a chained series of
transformations.
Background Radiation: is
the name given to the small
amounts of ionising
radiation that is always
present.
Isotopes:are different forms
of an element.
Radioisotopes: are isotopes
that are not stable.
Alpha and Beta Particles:are
both deflected by magnetic
Radioactivity Summary Sheet 1: Notes
AidanMatthews
1 eV = 1.6 x 10
-19
J 1 Bq = 1 decay per second 1 W = 1 J s
-1
1 Gy = 1 J kg
-1
c or
constant=3x10^8 m/sec
Absorbed Does =

(Gy) Dose equivalent = absorbed

does x quality factor (Sv)
Effective dose = (dose equivalent x W) (Sv)
Property Alpha Beta Gamma
Symbol

Equation

ejected

Mass Heavy Light Massless
Speed ~0.1c ~0.9c C
Charge +2 -1 0
Typical energy ~5MeV ~1MeV ~0.1MeV
Range in air A few cm 1-2m Many meters
Penetration in
Matter
~10
-2
mm A few mm High
Ionising ability High Reasonable Poor
Quality factor (Sv) 20 1 1
Description A large particle (2p,
2n) emitted from large
nuclei
An electron emitted
from a nuclei with
too many protons
A release of energy in
the form of an
electromagnetic wave
Other Comments When usingimportant
to moniter the decay
for safety
Easily Targeted, used
for treatment of
cancers.
Radiation Quality
Slow Neutrons 4
Fast neutrons 10
Dose (Sv) Effects
<1 Sv Non-fatal
Minor symptoms of
nausea
White blood cell levels
drop
Development of cancer
after many years in
about 5% of people.
Approx. 3Sv Death unlikely
Radiation sickness
(nausea, vomiting &
diarrhoea)
Skin rashes
Hair loss
Bone marrow damage
Death of 50% people
within 2 months if
medical treatment not
available
>10 Sv Death within 10days
due to Fluid and
Electrolyte imbalance;
bone marrow and
gastrointestinal
damage and infection.
>40 Sv Death within 48hours
due to damage
Vascular system which







results in an
accumulation of fluid in
the brain.
Electron Volt 1 eV 0.000001MeV
Megaelectron Volt 1 MeV 1000000 eV
Becquerel 1 Bq 0.001 kBq
Kilobecquerel 1 kBq 1000 Bq
Work 1 W
Joule 1 J 0.001 kJ
Kilojoule 1 kJ 1000 J
Gray 1 Gy 1000mGy
Milligray 1 mGy 0.001Gy
Activity decreases to

or

A= Activity measured at a particular time.
Ao= initial value (A when t=0)
n= number of half-lives
=decay constant
t= time

Absorbed Dose:
Dose Equivilent:
Dose Equivilent=Absorbed Dose x Quality Factor
Joules to Varying Types of stuff #TrentHasSwag
1.602x10^-10 J=1GeV 1.602x10^-13 J=1MeV
1.602x10^-16 J=1KeV 1.602x10^-19 J=1eV
1.602x10^-22 J=1meV 1.602x10^-25 J=1ueV

Alpha Decay Example: Uranium -238
Beta Decay Example: Thorium -234
Gamma Decay Example: Bismuth -210

Present After Particular Time Example:
Original: 10kBq
Now (after 10 days): 1.5

Absorbed Dose Example:
Mass = 30kg
Dose = 3 mGy = 0.003 Gy
rearranging the equation from other page
Energy = Dose x Mass = 0.003 x 30 = 0.09 J
Dose Equivalent Example:
Dose Equivalent is an attempt to compare
the dose from different types of radiation.
Its measured in a different unit (Sieverts),
but is basically the same as Absorbed Dose.
You modify absorbed dose by just
multiplying by a fixed number the Quality
Factor.
(continuing from equation above)
3 mGy x (1) = 3 mSv.
(the quality factor for gamma radiation is 1)
Radioactivity Summary Sheet 2: Examples+
AidanMatthews

Activity and Half-life Example:
Pure sample of
13
N has a half-life of 10
minutes. If it initially contains 5x10
20
nuclei,
how many will be left after 2 hours?
N=number of nuclei
No=initial number of nuclei=5x10
20

n=number of half-lives=12

Atomic Mass Units (u):
1u = 1/12 of the mass of a
12
C nucleus
1u = 1.66 x 10
-27
kg
Atomic Mass Units Example:
12
C Proton Mass=1.673 x 10
-27
= 1.007u
12
C Neutron Mass=1.675 x 10
-27
= 1.009u
Note:By definition an Atomic Mass unit is
exactly a twelfth of a
12
C nucleus. So.
12
C = 12u
6 protons = 6 x 1.007
6 neutrons = 6 x 1.009
6 x 1.007 + 6 x 1.009 = 12.1
The mass of the combined nucleons is more
than that of nucleus.
Mass Defect:
Mass of a nucleus than the combined mass
of individual nucleons. This is called Mass
Defect. The mass defect represents the
energy needed to bind a nucleus.
E=mc
2

Energy = Mass Equivalence
Energy = mass x (constant)
2

c
2
= (constant)
2
= (speed of light)
2

Speed of Light = 3x10^8 m/sec

Binding Energy Example:
Mass of
40
Ca = 39.96
Mass of Individual nucleons (20n, 20p)
=40.319u
Mass Defect=(40.319-39.9626)u
=0.3564u
=0.3564 x 1.66 x 10
-27

=5.916 x 10
-28
Use Einsteins theory
E=mc
2

=5.916 x 10
-28
x (3x10
8
)
2

5.325 x 10
-11
J
Shown above is energy needed to bind
nucleus in Joules.
Energy in Electron Volts
= 3.33 x 10
8
eV
= 333 x 10
6
eV
=333 MeV
Shown above is the energy needed to bind
a nucleus in Electron Volts

Mass
1 Proton Mass=1.673 x 10
-27
= 1.007u
1 Neutron Mass=1.675 x 10
-27
= 1.009u
External Radiation:
Radiation that is directed onto the skin
over a cancerous region within the body
from an external source.
Internal Radiation:
Radiation coming from an internal
source within the body
Nuclear Fusion:
Joining together of element nucleons.
Nuclear Fission:
Breaking apart of element nucleons

x = number of nucleons
y = number of
protons/electrons/element
z = element symbol