an increase produces GLOBAL WARMING IONISING RADIATION GENERATING ELECTRICITY

All you need to Module

- it is removed by PHOTOSYNTHESIS 3 main types from non-renewable sources coal, oil, gas, nuclear
know about ...
Penetration from renewable sources wind, tidal, wave,
OCR 21st Century Science P3 hydro, solar, biomass
ALPHA LOW absorbed by a few
centimetres of air or Process burn fuel > heat water > make steam
ATOMIC STRUCTURE thin paper > turn a turbine > generate electricity
elements are made up of atoms of the same type
atoms have a nucleus made up of protons and neutrons BETA passes through air / paper
Power stations types
atoms of a particular element have same number of protons stopped by thin metal
Fossil fuel uses non-renewable carbon fuels
atoms of an element can have different numbers of neutrons
produces lots of CO2 (greenhouse gas)
atoms contain equal numbers of protons and electrons GAMMA HIGH stopped by many produces sulphur dioxide (get acid rain)
electrons exist outside the nucleus in energy levels (shells) centimetres of lead or
metres of concrete Nuclear uses heat produced by radioactive decay
RADIOACTIVITY no CO2 or SO2 produced
atoms of some elements are radioactive BUT produces radioactive waste
Ionising radiation can...
radioactive elements constantly emit ionising radiation
radioactive elements have unstable nucleui damage living cells - kill them Nuclear fission in power stations
unstable nuclei emit radiation to produce more stable nuclei - make them cancerous
unstable nuclei are bombarded with neutrons
over time radioactivity decreases (but NEVER TO ZERO) break molecules into ions
the nuclei undergo fission and split
decay is measured in half lives (can be seconds or years) treat cancer
two smaller nuclei are formed plus neutrons
sterilise surgical instruments GOOD
HALF LIFE sterilise food (kills bacteria) USES
The time it takes for half of the nuclei of an atom to decay detect cracks in pipes
it is a measure of the rate of decay of a radio-isotope
in one half-life; radioactivity drops to a half of its current value energy is released
Radiation dose ... released neutrons cause more nuclei to split
Half lives 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
this produces a chain reaction
Fraction 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64 depends on - the type of radiation
remaining - how long you are exposed the reaction is controlled using carbon rods
the rods are lowered to absorb neutrons
the larger the dose, the greater the risk
1 It takes 1 half life to drop to 1/2 original a coolant removes the heat energy
2 half lives to drop to 1/4 original
is measured in units called sieverts
water is not heated directly to minimise risks
3 half lives to drop to 1/8 original can occur naturally (background radiation)
4 half lives to drop to 1/16 original
background radiation can come from... Radioactive waste
IT NEVER DROPS TO ZERO - rocks - the sun and space
1/2 + - medical uses - nuclear fallout Problems can be high level, low level or intermediate
You cant halve something to get 0
radioactivity never goes, it just gets less

RADIOACTIVITY
can be higher in certain jobs... needs to be stored safely for many years
1/4 - pilots and cabin crew
method of storage depends on risk
1/8 - doctors, radiographers and dentists
<- 17 mins -> <- 17 mins -> <- 17 mins ->
can be stored - under ground or sea
0
- miners - in drums
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 - nuclear power station workers - in glass
Time / mins
J. L. HOPTON 2009