1. What does it mean if something is radioactive?
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
What does it mean if something is radioactive?

2. Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should be able to…
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how these may affect us.

3. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Radioactive Decay
In some atoms, the nucleus is u_______, and will d_______ into a more stable atom.
In radioactive decay the nucleus emits either an a_____ or b____ particle or a g______ wave and in doing so becomes stable.
The process is naturally occurring and random.

4. Radioactive Decay Which elements are radioactive?
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Radioactive Decay
Which elements are radioactive?
Are there any particular places to look?

5. Radioactive Decay Which elements are radioactive?
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Radioactive Decay
Which elements are radioactive?
Are there any particular places to look?

6. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Radioactive Decay
Generally, as atoms become larger they become more unstable.
Atoms with lots more neutrons than protons also tend to be less stable (these are found at the bottom of the periodic table) U 92
238 Na 11 22

7. Radioactivity is not dangerous but its product, radiation, can be!
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Misconception!
Don’t confuse radioactivity – the process of large atoms decaying, with radiation – the product given out when they decay.
Radioactivity is not dangerous but its product, radiation, can be!

8. Why is Radiation Dangerous
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Why is Radiation Dangerous
Radiation is dangerous because alpha and beta particles / gamma waves have the power to ionise.
Draw yourself an atom of carbon (2nd most common element in body) with the electrons around the outside – how many should it have? C

9. The Structure of the Atom
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
The Structure of the Atom
________ – negative charge, mass __________
_________ – positive charge, same mass as ________
_______ – neutral- no charge, same mass as _____

10. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Dangers of Radiation
Ionisation – The process of r________ an electron from it’s a____ as a result of incoming energy (radiation).

11. Why is Radiation Dangerous
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Why is Radiation Dangerous
Within each of your cells we can find the n_______, which contains ______.
If radiation strikes the atoms in your _____ they can become ionised causing mutations.
Mutations can lead to development of ________.

12. The Geiger-Muller Tube
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Describe the three types of radioactivity in terms of their structure, their power to ionise and their ability to penetrate materials.
Describe the function of a gieger-muller tube
Write nuclear decay for alpha and beta decay (higher paper only).
The Geiger-Muller Tube
Radiation ionises an atom of argon within the tube, creating a charged ion and free electron. These move towards cathode and anode depending on charge. When this event is recorded the clicking noise is made.
Cathode
Radiation
Ionisation
400V
Anode
Argon gas
Counter

13. The Geiger-Muller Tube
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Describe the three types of radioactivity in terms of their structure, their power to ionise and their ability to penetrate materials.
Describe the function of a gieger-muller tube
Write nuclear decay for alpha and beta decay (higher paper only).
The Geiger-Muller Tube
Have you noticed a pattern in the clicks coming from the GM tube so far this lesson?
Cathode
Radiation
Ionisation
400V
Anode
Argon gas
Counter

14. Where do you think this background radiation is coming from?
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Background Radiation
When the GM tube was left on the side, the counter occasionally clicks.
This supply of radioactive particles is called the background radiation, by definition background radiation is random and unpreventable. There are many natural and man-made sources which create it…
Where do you think this background radiation is coming from?

15. All Around Us Radiation (Video)
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
All Around Us Radiation (Video)
Fill in page 11 as you go…

16. Nuclear Power
Nuclear Weapons Testing
Medical
Air
Cosmic Rays
Rocks
Food & drink

17. Radiation and Planes

18. Your Radioactivity Dose
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Your Radioactivity Dose

19. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Should we be worried?
Background radiation cannot be avoided! So should we worry about something which we cannot avoid...?
Many scientists use the term ALARA As
Low
Reasonable
Achievable

20. Should we be worried? Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Should we be worried?

21. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should...
Review the structure of an atoms, ions and isotopes.
State a definition for a radioactive atom.
List some common sources of ‘background’ radiation and describe how this may affect us.
Isotopes
An isotope is an atom with a different number of neutrons but the same number of protons: O 8 16 17 18
Each isotope has 8 protons – if it didn’t then it just wouldn’t be oxygen any more.