3.7 Using radioactive materials

April 12, 2023

Here is some data from last lesson on popping popcorn. From this table, how long does it take for popcorn to pop?

  Time taken to pop / s

Group 1st Attempt 2nd Attempt

1 34 24

2 5 52

3 9 22

Aims

• Consolidate ideas of nuclear changes and the properties and uses of alpha, beta and gamma radiation

• Explain why, over time, the activity of a source decreases

α β γ

The mass number:

The atomic number:

What is radiation?Video

α β γ

Using the text book

• Write explanations of three ways a nucleus can change: when it emits alpha, beta and gamma

Alpha (α) Particles

242He

Add a number to one or more boxes to accurately describe an alpha particle

Beta (β) particles

e01

Add a number to one or more boxes to accurately describe a beta particle

Gamma (γ) rays

Alpha particles

42

Beta particles

01

Gamma ray

00

4222286

22688 RnRa

Worked example

• What happens when polonium-218 undergoes beta decay?

0121885

21884 AtPo

What would the following elements decay into?

• Uranium-238 via alpha decay

• Thorium-234 via beta decay

• Protactinium-234 via beta decay

• Uranium-234 via alpha decay