Physics Chapter 33
Nuclear stability is related to the balance between
attracting and repelling forces in the nucleus
Carbon-14 is produced in the atmosphere principally by
cosmic ray bombardment
When the nucleus of an atom emits an alpha particle the atom's atomic number
decreases
Which radiation has no association with electric charge?
gamma
Which of these is electromagnetic radiation
gamma radiation
Which will NOT bend when moving in a magnetic field
gamma ray
Rays with the shortest wavelengths have the
highest frequencies and energies
When a nucleus emits a beta particle, its atomic number
increases by 1
What is the basic description of radioactivity
it involves the decay of the atomic nucleus
What thickness of solid lead is needed to stop half the flow of neutrinos
lead thickness would be about 8 light years
Most of the radioactivity we personally encounter originates from
natural environment
Carbon-14 in the atmosphere is transformed from _________.
nitrogen
For 1 gram of radioactive material that has a half-life of one year, after 4 years the original radioactive material left will be
none of the above (1/16)
Cosmic radiation, nuclear power plants, air, and diagnostic X-rays are all sources of radiation. Organize them from lower to higher level of annual exposure
nuclear power plants, cosmic radiation, diagnostic X-rays, air
Carbon dating requires that the object being tested contain
organic material
Electric forces within an atomic nucleus tend to
push it apart
Radiation dosages based on potential damage is in
rems
What causes a larger nucleus to be generally less stab,e than a smaller nucleus
the electric force of repulsion between protons is a long range force while the attractive strong nuclear force is shirt range. Repulsion wins for larger nuclei
X-rays are emitted by way of
transitions within an atom's innermost electrons
The radioactive half life of a material is the time for
(both of these) its decay rate to reduce to half; half of an original quantity of the material to decay