Cambridge IGCSE Physics5.2 Radioactivity Checklist

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What's on this checklist

Core

  • I know what is meant by background radiation.
  • I know the sources that make a significant contribution to background radiation, including:a)radon gas (in the air)b)rocks and buildingsc)food and drinkd)cosmic rays
  • I know that ionising nuclear radiation can be measured with a detector connected to a counter.
  • I can use count rate, measured in counts/s or counts/minute.
  • I can describe the emission of radiation from a nucleus as spontaneous and random in direction.
  • I can identify alpha (α), beta (β) and gamma (γ) emissions from the nucleus by recalling:a)their natureb)their relative ionising effectsc)their relative penetrating abilities (β⁺ is not included: β-particles means β⁻)
  • I know that radioactive decay is a change in an unstable nucleus that can result in the emission of α-particles or β-particles and/or γ-radiation, and that these changes are spontaneous and random.
  • I can state that in α-decay or β-decay the nucleus changes to the nucleus of a different element.
  • I can define the half-life of a particular isotope as the time taken for half the nuclei of that isotope in any sample to decay, and I can recall and use this definition in simple calculations, which may use information in tables or decay curves (the calculations do not include background radiation).
  • I can state the effects of ionising nuclear radiations on living things, including cell death, mutations and cancer.
  • I can describe how radioactive materials are moved, used and stored safely.

Extended

  • I can use measurements of background radiation to work out a corrected count rate.
  • I can describe how α-particles, β-particles and γ-radiation are deflected in electric fields and in magnetic fields.
  • I can explain their relative ionising effects in terms of:a)kinetic energyb)electric charge
  • I know that isotopes of an element may be radioactive because the nucleus has too many neutrons and/or is too heavy.
  • I can describe how α-decay, β-decay and γ-emissions affect the nucleus, including an increase in stability and a reduction in the number of excess neutrons, and I know that during β-emission this change happens in the nucleus: neutron → proton + electron.
  • I can use decay equations, written in nuclide notation, to show the emission of α-particles, β-particles and γ-radiation.
  • I can calculate half-life from data or decay curves that still include background radiation.
  • I can explain how the type of radiation emitted and the half-life of an isotope decide which isotope is used in applications including:a)household fire (smoke) alarmsb)irradiating food to kill bacteriac)sterilising equipment using gamma raysd)measuring and controlling the thickness of materials, with the radiation chosen according to its penetration and absorptione)diagnosing and treating cancer using gamma rays
  • I can explain safety precautions for all ionising radiation in terms of reducing the exposure time, increasing the distance between the source and living tissue, and using shielding to absorb the radiation.