Half-Life & Risk (AQA GCSE Physics): Flashcards
📚Flashcards
Practise the cards
12 cards from this deck
ShowHide
Practise the cards
12 cards from this deck
What is half-life?
What is half-life?
Time taken for half the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay
Is half-life the same for all isotopes?
Is half-life the same for all isotopes?
No, each isotope has its own unique half-life
What range can half-lives have?
What range can half-lives have?
Fractions of a second to millions of years
What happens to all radioactive isotopes over time?
What happens to all radioactive isotopes over time?
All gradually decrease in radioactivity
Why is half-life important for risk assessment?
Why is half-life important for risk assessment?
It determines how long an isotope remains hazardous
What risk do long half-life isotopes pose?
What risk do long half-life isotopes pose?
Prolonged risk - remain radioactive for extended periods
Why are long half-life isotopes dangerous?
Why are long half-life isotopes dangerous?
Emit radiation over long time, increasing potential for exposure
How do long half-lives affect exposure?
How do long half-lives affect exposure?
Increase exposure potential due to prolonged radiation emission
How quickly do short half-life isotopes decay?
How quickly do short half-life isotopes decay?
Decay quickly, reducing radioactivity in shorter time
What happens to short half-life radioactivity?
What happens to short half-life radioactivity?
Reduces in shorter time but may be intense initially
What about initial radiation from short half-lives?
What about initial radiation from short half-lives?
May emit intense radiation initially
How does risk change with short half-lives?
How does risk change with short half-lives?
Risk diminishes rapidly as they decay quickly