A-Level Physics OCR B H557

6.2.2: Ionising radiation and risk

#6.2.2a(i)

the nature and effects of ionising radiations: differences in ionising and penetrating power, effects on living tissue

#6.2.2a(ii)

the stability and decay of nuclei in terms of binding energy; transformation of nucleus on emission of radiation; qualitative variation of binding energy with proton and neutron number (“Nuclear Valley”)

#6.2.2a(iii)

nuclear fission; chain reaction; nuclear fusion; nuclear power generation.

Benefits and concerns over nuclear power

#6.2.2b

Make appropriate use of:

(i) the terms: nucleon number, proton number, isotope, binding energy, atomic mass unit, absorbed and effective dose, risk

by sketching and interpreting:

(ii) plots of binding energy per nucleon of nuclei against nucleon number.

#6.2.2c(i)

activity of a sample of radioactive material (related to half-life or decay constant)

#6.2.2c(ii)

absorbed dose in gray = energy deposited per unit mass

#6.2.2c(iii)

effective dose in sievert = absorbed dose in gray × quality factor

#6.2.2c(iv)

energy changes from nuclear transformations: $E_{rest} = mc^2$

#6.2.2d(i)

studying the absorption of α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays by appropriate materials

Possible use of simulation software links to 6.2.2a(i)

#6.2.2d(ii)

determining the half-life of an isotope such as protactinium.

Possible use of simulation software links to 6.2.2c(i)

6.2.1

Probing deep into matter

PAG

Practical Endorsement

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