Figure 10 shows a safety sign on the door of a laboratory where radioactive materials are used - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 6
Figure 10 shows a safety sign on the door of a laboratory where radioactive materials are used.
(a) (i) State one way that radioactivity can be dangerous to humans.... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Figure 10 shows a safety sign on the door of a laboratory where radioactive materials are used - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
State one way that radioactivity can be dangerous to humans.
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Answer
Radioactivity can be dangerous to humans in several ways. One significant risk is cell damage, which can lead to conditions such as cancer. Ionising radiation can alter cellular structures and jeopardize their integrity, potentially resulting in harmful mutations.
Step 2
State one piece of equipment that can be used to measure radioactivity.
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Answer
A Geiger-Müller (GM) tube is commonly used to measure radioactivity. It detects ionising particles through the ionisation of gas within the tube, providing a measurable count of radiation.
Step 3
Give two other ionising radiations.
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Answer
Two other types of ionising radiations include:
Beta radiation (β)
Gamma radiation (γ)
Additionally, X-rays can also be considered as ionising radiation.
