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Polonium-210 ($^{210}_{84}Po$) is a radioactive isotope that decays by emitting alpha radiation - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 2
Polonium-210 ($^{210}_{84}Po$) is a radioactive isotope that decays by emitting alpha radiation. 1. Which is the correct decay equation for polonium-210? Tick (✓) ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Polonium-210 ($^{210}_{84}Po$) is a radioactive isotope that decays by emitting alpha radiation - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Why is alpha radiation dangerous inside the human body?
Answer
Alpha radiation is considered dangerous because it is highly ionising. This means that when alpha particles interact with biological tissues, they can cause significant damage to cells, leading to potential health risks such as cancer.
Step 3
Determine the change in mass of the sample of polonium-210 between 50 and 150 days.
Answer
To determine the change in mass of the sample of polonium-210 between 50 and 150 days, we look at the mass readings. The mass change is calculated as follows:
Change in mass = 460 mg - 280 mg = 180 mg.
Thus, the change in mass is 180 mg.