Properties of radiation
1
1. What does alpha radiation consist of?
Two protons and two neutrons
One electron
Electromagnetic radiation
2
2. Which type of radiation is the least penetrating?
Gamma
Alpha
Beta
3
3. Which type of radiation travels the furthest in air?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
4
4. Which of these is the correct definition of half-life?
The time it takes for the number of protons to halve
The distance it takes for the number of nuclei to halve
The time it takes for the number of nuclei to halve
5
5. What shape is the line on a decay curve for a radioactive substance?
Straight line upwards
Curve downwards
Curve upwards
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6. What charge is alpha radiation?
Negative
Neutral
Positive
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7. Which type of radiation will be attracted to a positively charged plate?
Beta
Alpha
Gamma
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8. What colour will photographic film turn when it absorbs radiation?
Stay the same
Darker
Lighter
9
9. What tube detects radiation?
Fluorescent
Geiger-Muller
Glass
10
10. Which of these is an artificial source of background radiation?
Cosmic rays
Rocks and soil
Radioactive waste
11. What are the (possible) three particles found inside an atom?
Protons, neutrons and positrons
Positrons, neutrons and electrons
Protons, neutrons and electrons
2
12. What is the electrical charge found on a proton?
Positive
Neutral - no charge
Negative
3
13. What particles are found inside the nucleus of an atom?
Protons and electrons
Protons and neutrinos
Protons and neutrons
4
14. What is ionisation?
Ionisation is the loss or gain of protons to create a charged particle called an ion
Ionisation is the loss or gain of neutrons to create a charged particle called an ion
Ionisation is the loss or gain of electrons to create a charged particle called an ion
5
15. An unknown source of radiation is blocked by 5 mm of aluminium but not blocked by paper.
What kind of radiation is present?
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
6
16. A student in a classroom measures 450 counts on a Geiger-Muller tube in 5 minutes.
What is the background radiation in the classroom?
90 Bq
2250 Bq
1.5 Bq
7
17. What steps should be taken when dealing with radioactive sources?
Maintain a safe distance and store the material in an appropriate lead lined container
Wear appropriate footwear so that you don’t slip
Make sure that you are wearing a hard hat at all times
8
18. What is the absorbed dose of a 2 kg piece of tissue exposed to 500 mJ of energy?
0.25 Gy
0.5 Gy
1 Gy
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19. A substance has a half life of 60 seconds. How long will it take for its activity to decrease
from 20 kBq to 2.5 kBq?
120 seconds
180 seconds
240 seconds
10
20. What type of energy is released by the reactions inside a nuclear reactor?
Heat energy
Light energy
Electrical energy
21. A radioactive source has a half-life of 15 minutes. At a particular time the activity of the
source is 16 kBq. What is the activity of the source one hour later?
22.