AQA GCSE Physics key terms
Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation Key Terms
Study Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.
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Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation
Key terms
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment.
ionising radiation
Radiation that carries enough energy to liberate electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby ionising them.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
cosmic rays
High-energy radiation that originates from outside the Earth's atmosphere and contributes to background radiation.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
artificial source
Radiation sources created by human activities, such as medical procedures and nuclear power.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
natural sources of background radiation
Sources of background radiation that occur naturally, such as cosmic rays, rocks, and radon gas.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
altitude effect
The variation in background radiation levels due to changes in altitude, affecting cosmic ray exposure.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
ionising radiation
Radiation that carries enough energy to liberate electrons from atoms or molecules, thereby ionising them.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
artificial source
Radiation sources created by human activities, such as medical procedures and nuclear power.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
count rate
The number of decays or counts detected per unit time, often measured to assess radiation levels.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and artificial sources.
count rate
The number of radioactive decays detected per unit time, often measured in counts per second.
background radiation
Ionising radiation that is always present in the environment.
corrected count rate
The count rate obtained by subtracting the background count rate from the measured count rate.
half-life
The time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to reduce to half its initial value.
radioactive isotope
An isotope of an element that has an unstable nucleus and emits radiation as it decays.
half-life
The time taken for the quantity of a radioactive isotope to decrease to half its initial value.
radioactive isotope
An isotope of an element that has an unstable nucleus and emits radiation as it decays.
half-life
The time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its initial value.
long-term hazard
The potential risk associated with prolonged exposure to a radioactive source, which may increase with longer half-lives.
half-life
The time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its initial value.
radioactive isotope
An isotope that has an unstable nucleus and emits radiation as it decays.
medical tracer
A radioactive substance used in medical imaging to follow the movement of substances within the body.
half-life
The time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay.
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