CHAPTER 6 NUCLEAR ENERGY

6.1 Understanding Radioactive Substances

6.2 Understanding the Production of Nuclear Energy
and its Uses
6.3 Awareness of the Need for Proper Handling of
Radioactive Substances
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6.1 Understanding Radioactive Substances

Radioactive Substances
1. Radioactive substances are _______________________________ while
______________________________________________________
2. Figure 6.1 shows the symbol used to warn the public about the
presence of radioactive substances.
3. Figure 6.2 shows some examples of the common radioactive substances.

Radioactive Decay
1. Radioactive decay is
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. The nucleus before decay is called the parent nuclide and the product of decay is the
daughter nuclide.
Radioactive Radiation
1. There are 3 types of radioactive radiation
___________________________________________________________________
2. Geiger-Muller tube (GM tube) is __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Similarities of the Three Radiations
1. __________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________

4. __________________________________________________________________

Differences of the Three Radiations

Radioactive

Alpha particles,

Beta particles,

Gamma rays

emissions
Nature
Charge
Speed
In an
electric field

In magnetic

Bends a little showing

field

that it has a big mass.

Direction of the bend
indicates that it is

Ionising
power

Penetrating
power

positively charges
The 3 types of radiation use their energy to _______________________
__________________________________________________________
The ionization of an atom produces _____________________________
__________________________________________________________
Weakest
Radiation which has a stronger ionizing power will have _____________
___________________________________________________
The radiation emission ___________________________ each time an
ion pair is produced.

Stopped by
Range in air

Radioisotope
1. Radioisotopes are ________________ which decay and give out radioactive emissions.
2. Radioisotopes are isotopes of an element that are radioactive.
3. Radioisotopes are naturally occurring or artificially produced.
4. Artificial radioisotopes can be produced when _________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
Application of Radioisotope in Archaeology
1.5. __________________ generating carbon-14 from
6. atmospheric nitrogen-14. This carbon-14 is _____
8.
9.

7.
________________________________________
_____________________ which then settles down

to the Earth and then may enter the carbon cycle.

10.
2. Carbon-14 is a radioisotope with a half-life of
11.
___________and decays by emitting beta particles.
12.
3. Living animals and plants have a ______________
13.
____________ of carbon-14 in their tissues which
14.
remains constant.
15.
4. When ______________________ the amount of
16.
carbon-14 in their body ______________________
17.
_____________________________
18.
5. The amount of carbon-14 left in a decayed plant or
animal can be ____________________________

Application of Radioisotopes in Industry

(a) Thickness control

1. Place ______________________ at the top, _________________ on bottom

2. Measure the amount of radiation
-

If too thin: ______________________

If too thick: _____________________

3. Type of radiation used varies according to type of material

-

For metal sheets, ____________________ are used

- For plastics, clothes and paper, ____________________ are used.

(b) detecting leaks in underground water pipes.

1. _____________________ which emits beta particles is _____________________

____________________to measure the flow rate in the pipeline and to find leaks.
2. The radiation produced by the radioactive substance can be detected with a
___________________________placed above ground.
3. A larger increase in the count rate will indicate that __________________________

Application of Radioisotopes in Medicine

(a) Radioactive tracers

1. A radioisotope is taken in by a patient

through the ___________________
________________ or through the
____________________________
The radiation emitted enables organs
such as thyroid, bones, heart, liver to
be easily imaged by imaging
equipment. Disorders can then be
detected.
(b)Sterilizing
1. Medical instruments are sterilized after
packing by a brief exposure to ______
_________________
2. Gamma rays can be used to ________
_______________________________
(c) cancer treatment
1. Gamma rays can _________________
They are used to kill cancer cells
without having to _________________
2. This is called ___________________
3. It is important to administer the correct
dosage. Excessive radiation will
damage too many healthy cells.
Insufficient radiation will not stop the
cancer from spreading.

Application of Radioisotope in the Field of Agriculture

1. By measuring the radioactivity of the stem and leaves, scientists can find out how
much fertilizer has been absorbed by the plant.
2. Radioisotopes are used to kill pests and parasites and to control the ripening of
fruits.

(a) As a tracer
1. Tracers are used to determine ________
_________________________________
___________________________________
2. ________________________________ is
added to the fertiliser and its rate of uptake by
the plant can be determined using a G-M
counter.
(b) As a preservation agent
1. Emits and foodstuff are _____________
________________________________
2. Potatoes treated with low doses of radiation
can be ___________________
________________________________
(c) As a mutating agent
1. _____________ are used to produce new
species of plants.
2. This is done by controlled exposure of the
seeds to _____________________
______________so that the cells in the seeds
can _______________________
3. This process may produce species which are
______________________________
_________________________________
(d) As a sterilising agent
1. Radioisotopes are used to control _____
________________________________
2. Male insects are bred and irradiated to
sterilise them.
3. These sterilised males are then released
_________________________________
_________________________________

6.2 Understanding the Production of Nuclear Energy and its Uses

Nuclear Fission
1. Nuclear fission is _______________________________________________________
2. Fission occurs when the nucleus of an atom is ________________________________
3. The _______________________________ causes the target nucleus to split into two
(or more) nuclei that are _______________________ the parent nucleus, releasing a
________________________________________ during the process.
4. A slow neutron hitting a uranium-235 nucleus, causing it to split producing strontium-90,
xenon-143 and three neutrons + energy.

Example of nuclear fission:

Nuclear Fusion
1. Nuclear fusion is ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_
2. Nuclear fusion is believed to be the process by which ___________________________
When two hydrogen-2 nuclei moving at ___________________________ they can join
together to produce _______________________ A large amount of energy is released.
3. A hydrogen bomb uses the principle of __________________________ for its design.

Generation of Electricity from Nuclear Energy

1. Electricity can be generated from the energy released by fission reactions. A nuclear
power station consists of a nuclear reactor and a generator.
2. __________________ produces tremendous amount of energy through nuclear fission.

Energy changes that took place are:

Effects of nuclear energy production

1. Radioactive substances can cause positive effects and also negative effects on living
things.
Positive effects

Negative effects

6.3 Awareness of the Need for Proper Handling of Radioactive

Substances
Negative Effect of Radioactive Substance
1. When radioactive emissions strikes living cells, it can cause ______________________
_____________________________________This may cause the cells to be killed,
resulting in tissue damage.
2. At low doses of radiation, the damaged tissues can repair itself rapidly.
3. High doses of radiation can cause burn effects known as _______________________
4. The ionization effect of radiation can also cause genetic damage to the molecules of the
cells. This may lead to the _____________________________________ development.
5. If the radioactive substances gets inside the body, the most harmful effects come from
the alpha particles because they have the highest ionization power.
6. If the radioactive source is outside the body, the greatest danger is from gamma
sources because gamma rays have _______________________________________
7. The alpha particles would not penetrate clothing and is highly unlikely to reach living
cells in the body.
8. The somatic and Genetic effect are shown in the table below:

Safety Precautions in the Handling of Radioactive Substances

Radioactive substance must always he handled with the correct procedures to prevent
harmful effects to people and the environment. The following are sortie basic precautions:
1. _____________________________________________________________________
equipment and work manuals. Gloves must be worn any time an unsealed source is
being used or whenever contamination is likely to occur.

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2. _____________________________________________________________________
_
3. Eating, drinking, applying cosmetics or storing of food is prohibited.
4. All work surfaces and storage areas (e.g. table tops and floors) should be covered with
absorbent material to contain radioactive material contamination.
5. When using radioactive liquids, plastic or metal trays (stainless steel washes easily)
should be utilised to contain potential spills.
6. Radioactive material, especially liquids, should be
______________________________ whenever possible. If glass is used, a secondary
container is necessary.
7. Before eating or drinking, wash hands and forearms thoroughly.
8. Radioactive sources for educational use are kept in ___________________
Radioactive Waste Management
1. Waste from the nuclear reactor is radioactive and therefore must be carefully managed.
2. Radioactive waste consists of a variety of materials requiring different methods of
management to protect people and the environment. They are classified as _________
_____________________________________________________________________

Low-Level Waste
Comprises 90% of the
volume but only 1% of the
radioactivity of all
radioactive wastes.
Generated from ______
__________________
__________________
__________________
Comprises __________
___________________
__________________
Contains small amounts of
mostly short-lived
radioactivity.
Buried in _____________
___________________
Often compacted/
incinerated (___________
_____________) before
disposal to reduce its
volume.

Intermediate-Level Waste
Makes up 7% of the
volume and has 4% of the
radioactivity of all
radioactive wastes.
Contains higher amounts
of radioactivity and may
require __________
_______________
Comprises of ______
_________________
_________________
________________ from
reactor decommissioning.
Solidified in concrete or
bitumen for disposal.
Short-lived wastes (mainly
from reactors) is
_____________
Long-lived wastes (from
reprocessing nuclear fuel)
is disposed _____
_______________

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High-Level Waste
Consists of only 3% of
the volume of all radioactive
wastes but it holds 90% of
the radioactivity.
Mainly ______________
____________________
____________________
Contains highlyradioactive fission products
and some heavy elements
with long-lived radioactivity.
Generates large amounts
of heat and requires cooling
as well as special shielding
during handling transport.
______________
_______________

Exercises 6
Essay Question
1. (a) State one use of radioactive substances in each of the fields of agriculture,
medicine,

archaeology

and

industry.

[4 marks]
(b) A group of workers are directed to control a radioactive leak at a nuclear reactor.
Describe how they can overcome this problem. Your answer should include the
following:
Identify the problem

[1

mark]
Describe two methods to detect the radioactive leakage

[2

marks]
State two adverse effects of radioactive leakage

[2

marks]
State one safe storage method

[1

mark]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Answer
Field

Uses

Agriculture

Gamma ray is used to sterilise pests

Medicine

Gamma ray from cobalt-60 is used to kill cancer cells

Archaeology

Carbon-14 is used to determine the age of ancient artitacts

Industry

Uranium-235 is used to generate electricity in nuclear reactors

(b) Radioactive leakage

Use a Geiger-Muller counter and wear photographic badges
Causes cancer and mutations
Keep radioactive substance in thick lead/ thick concrete

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