GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation Learning Outcomes Apply the term radiation to EM waves and alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ), and know which are ionising. know that waste materials from nuclear power stations and nuclear medicine are radioactive be aware that the random nature of radioactive decay and its consequences distinguish between alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) radiation in terms of their penetrating power, relate their penetrating powers to their potential for harm Apply the term radiation to EM waves and alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ), and know which are ionising. know that waste materials from nuclear power stations and nuclear medicine are radioactive be aware that the random nature of radioactive decay and its consequences distinguish between alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) radiation in terms of their penetrating power, relate their penetrating powers to their potential for harm

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation Key Words: Background radiation: The low level radiation that is present at all times from rocks/food/people/the sky etc. Random: Cannot be predicted. Background radiation: The low level radiation that is present at all times from rocks/food/people/the sky etc. Random: Cannot be predicted.

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation What are Alpha, Beta and Gamma? Alpha, Beta and Gamma are NUCLEAR radiation. They are produced by radioactive elements SizePenetrationDamage AlphaLargeLowHigh BetaMedium GammaSmallHighLow

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation Ionisation Alpha, Beta, Gamma, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation are all ionising radiation. Ionisation is when radiation removes an electron from an atom, if this happens to atoms in living cells it can be very dangerous and can break up DNA and can destroy cells. This can eventually lead to cancer. The more energy carried by a type of radiation, the more ionising it is. In general alpha is the most ionising, followed by beta, gamma, x-rays and ultraviolet. The rest of the EM spectrum does NOT ionise cells. Remember: Only Alpha Beta and Gamma are emitted from radioactive atoms! Alpha, Beta, Gamma, X-rays, and ultraviolet radiation are all ionising radiation. Ionisation is when radiation removes an electron from an atom, if this happens to atoms in living cells it can be very dangerous and can break up DNA and can destroy cells. This can eventually lead to cancer. The more energy carried by a type of radiation, the more ionising it is. In general alpha is the most ionising, followed by beta, gamma, x-rays and ultraviolet. The rest of the EM spectrum does NOT ionise cells. Remember: Only Alpha Beta and Gamma are emitted from radioactive atoms!

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation Background Radiation Rocks/Buildings Nuclear waste and medical waste are sources of radiation and need to be buried deeply underground. Even after being buried they still contribute to background radiation. Background radiation is always present and at low levels. For the most part background radiation is not dangerous, although radon gas is thought to be the second biggest cause of lung cancer!

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation Radiation Experiments Whenever performing experiments with radiation it is important to remember two things: Because background radiation is always present it usually needs to be accounted for by subtracting the background radiation from the results of your experiment. Because radiation is a random process it is important that you perform your experiments over a long enough time period to account for the randomness. Whenever performing experiments with radiation it is important to remember two things: Because background radiation is always present it usually needs to be accounted for by subtracting the background radiation from the results of your experiment. Because radiation is a random process it is important that you perform your experiments over a long enough time period to account for the randomness.

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation

GCSE Science A Physics 1 Radiation You are chief inspector at a nuclear power plant. You have been asked to produce a safety leaflet explaining the dangers of nuclear waste to the public (and the workers). You must also explain how this waste is dealt with You are chief inspector at a nuclear power plant. You have been asked to produce a safety leaflet explaining the dangers of nuclear waste to the public (and the workers). You must also explain how this waste is dealt with