SS3 Second Term Physics Lesson Note – Radioactivity

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WEEK TWO

RADIOACTIVITY

• Radioactivity
• Nuclear reaction
• Nuclear power and atomic bomb
• Nigeria’s nuclear energy programme

Radioactivity

Radioactivity is the spontaneous decay or disintegration of  the nucleus of the atom of an element during which it emits α, β or γ rays or a combination of any or all the three and energy ( or heat). Examples of radioactive elements are uranium, radium, radon, thorium, polonium, etc. These all have high atomic number (>82)

 

Radiation	Alpha(α)particles	Beta(β) Particles	Gamma (γ)rays
Nature	Helium nuclei 42He	High Energy electrons	Electromagnetic wave of short wavelength
Velocity	5 – 7% speed of light	Travel at approximate speed of light	Travel at speed of light
Nature of charge	Positively charged	Negatively charged	Neutral
Effects of magnetic field	Slightly deflected towards the negative plate	Strongly deflected towards the positive plate	No effects
Ionizing power	High	low	None
Penetrating power	Little penetrating power e.g. thin sheets of paper	Good penetrating power e.g. aluminum	High penetrating power e.g. leads
Mass	Massive particle	Small particle	No mass

RADIOACTIVE DECAY

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