Unit 1 Radioactive Decay

Task 1: radioactive decay is a nuclei of some isotopes which are unstable. If a radioactive isotope decays the it will change and become a different atom with different number of protons. Radioactive decays also are a process which has an unstable atomic nucleus and which causes it to lose energy this because of radiation, for example there three main types of radioactive decay alpha, beta, and gamma particle. If a material has unstable nuclei it would be considered as radioactive. If an atom has emitted an alpha, or beta radiation it nucleus would change and become an nucleus of an different element. This would be because the number of protons in the nucleus would determine which element belongs to which one. An example would be Uranium-230 nuclei emit …show more content…
Also the positron would be emitted in the in the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus. The charge of the beta particle is -1, and also the mass would be 1/2000. An beta particle is used to treat some types of cancer for example bone cancer, beta particles could also be used as tracers. If an beta particles move in magnetic fields it would experience an deflecting force.
Gamma rays - gamma radiation is an electromagnet wave. Gamma rays are formed from light and because they are formed from light they have to no charge. Gamma rays will have no mass because they are formed from light/photons. Gamma rays cause cancer however it has some uses to it as well which is that it cures some types of cancer because its rays kills cancer cells.
The dangers of ionising radiation: all ionising radiation can cause damage to live cells and this means that the living cells would either day or can become into cancerous cells. This happens because ionising radiation can break molecules into bits called ions however this mean that these ions could take place in chemical reactions in the living