Radiation Physics Lecture Review

What is the basic definition of matter?

Anything that has form, occupies space, and possesses mass.

How is mass different from weight?

Mass is the quantity of matter; weight is the force that gravity exerts on that mass.

What type of energy is described as the energy of position?

Potential energy.

Which form of energy is associated with motion?

Kinetic energy.

Energy released during a chemical reaction is called __.

Chemical energy.

What do we call energy that results from the movement of electrons?

Electrical energy.

Heat produced by molecular motion is known as __.

Thermal energy.

Energy stored in an atomic nucleus is termed __.

Nuclear energy.

What form of energy is carried by x-rays, light, and radio waves?

Electromagnetic energy.

Define ionizing radiation.

Electromagnetic radiation capable of removing an orbital electron from an atom.

State the three fundamental SI base units.

Meter (length), kilogram (mass), second (time).

What is velocity?

The rate at which an object changes position (distance per unit time).

Acceleration refers to what physical concept?

The rate of change of velocity per unit time.

Work is calculated by which basic formula?

Work = Force × Distance (W = Fd).

How is power defined and in what unit is it measured?

Rate of doing work; measured in watts (W).

What particles reside in the atomic nucleus?

Protons (positive) and neutrons (neutral).

Atomic mass number (A) equals __.

Number of protons plus number of neutrons.

Atomic number (Z) indicates what?

Number of protons in the nucleus (determines the element).

Atoms with the same Z but different neutron counts are called __.

Isotopes.

What is electron-binding energy?

The energy that holds an electron in orbit around the nucleus.

State the octet rule.

No outer electron shell can contain more than eight electrons.

Describe an alpha particle.

Helium nucleus consisting of two protons and two neutrons.

What is a beta particle?

An electron-like particle emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay.

Define a photon.

The smallest quantity (quantum) of electromagnetic radiation; a bundle of energy traveling at the speed of light.

In a sine wave, the height of the wave is called its __.

Amplitude.

How does photon wavelength relate to energy?

As wavelength decreases, photon energy