Taking a Look at Radioactivity

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Radioactivity

Introduction: During this report explanations of the constituents and structure of atoms will be discussed. The basic and quantum models of an atom will be discussed and compared. Three different types of radiation will be looked which include alpha, beta and gamma. The nature and emission of these types of radiation will be reported as well as the penetrable force. The range and effects the radiation have on the magnetic and electrical fields. All the information within this report will then be summarised into a academic poster.

Structure of an atom: The atom is a unit of matter, which are so small that the use of an electron microscope must be used in order to see images of an atom. The atom has a dense central nucleus which contains positively charged protons and also neutrons which have no charge. Orbiting the nucleus are electrons these are negatively charged. The negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons attract each other thus why the atom stays as it is. The size of a nucleus is said to have a diameter of 1x10-14m and the atomic diameter is said to be 1x10-10m. Therefore the nucleus is 10000 times smaller than the atom. Protons, neutrons and electrons have a mass and a charge and this can be seen in a table 1 below.
/C Charge of the proton /Kg /Mass of proton
Proton +1.60x10-19 1 1.67x10-27 1
Electron -1.60x10-19 -1 9.11x10-31 0.0005
Neutron 0 0 1.67x10-27 1
Table 1
It is possible to simplify information within table 1 by looking at certain patterns in the numbers. The first pattern which can be seen is that proton and electrons have opposite and equal charges. A charge known as the elementary char...

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... the gamma radiation. 5cm of lead needs to be used to stop the penetration of gamma rays.
Conclusion: During this report an academic poster was used to summarise the information within the report. The report contains in depth information on the structure and constitutes of atoms. Looking at protons, neutrons and electrons their masses and charges of these particles. Also discussed in detail is the nature and emissions on radiation particles alpha, beta and gamma. Information looked at was the decay of these particles and what occurs during the decaying of these particles. Also the effect which this has on the nucleus when radiation particles decay. The range and effects of these radiation particles have upon electrical and magnetic fields were also described. Explanations were also given why certain particles favour certain sides of magnetic and electrical fields.

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