For theFor theBoy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America

bybyThe Pennsylvania State University, The Pennsylvania State University,

American Nuclear Society Student SectionAmerican Nuclear Society Student Section

Spring 2005Spring 2005

Nuclear Science Nuclear Science Merit Badge Merit Badge WorkshopWorkshop

WelcomeWelcome

The Radiation Science The Radiation Science and Engineering and Engineering

CenterCenterat Penn Stateat Penn State

Graphic by Vaughn Whisker

& Breazeale Nuclear & Breazeale Nuclear ReactorReactor

Basic Safety RulesBasic Safety Rules No food, drinks or gum outside of designated No food, drinks or gum outside of designated

areasareas No cell phones or pagersNo cell phones or pagers No camerasNo cameras If you need to leave the group for any reason If you need to leave the group for any reason

first ask an ANS member to escort you. first ask an ANS member to escort you. Each group will have at least one member Each group will have at least one member

assigned to wear a dosimeter. assigned to wear a dosimeter. A dosimeter is a small device to measure radiation A dosimeter is a small device to measure radiation

exposure.exposure. If you read the dosimeter now it will read zero. At If you read the dosimeter now it will read zero. At

the end of the day it should also read zero because the end of the day it should also read zero because we are not going to take you anywhere we expect we are not going to take you anywhere we expect there to be significant radiation exposure.there to be significant radiation exposure.

Let’s Get StartedLet’s Get StartedRequirement #1

ALARAALARA Alpha Alpha ParticleParticle AtomAtom BackgrounBackgroun

ddBeta Beta

ParticleParticleContaminatiContaminati

onon Curie (Ci)Curie (Ci) Becquerel Becquerel (Bq)(Bq)

Gamma RayGamma Ray Half-lifeHalf-life IonizatioIonizationn QuarkQuark

IsotopeIsotope NeutronNeutron Nuclear Nuclear EnergyEnergy

Nuclear Nuclear ReactorReactor

Particle Particle AcceleratorAccelerator RadRad Gray (Gy)Gray (Gy) RadiationRadiation

RadioactivitRadioactivityy Radon (Rn)Radon (Rn) RemRem Sievert (Sv)Sievert (Sv)

X-RayX-Ray

ALARAALARA AAs s LLow ow AAs s RReasonably easonably AAchievablechievable This is the principle by which the nuclear industry This is the principle by which the nuclear industry

operates. The goal is to minimize the radiation operates. The goal is to minimize the radiation exposure of workers.exposure of workers.

ALARA:TIME

DISTANCESHIELDING

Alpha ParticleAlpha Particle (alpha ray, alpha radiation) An electrically (alpha ray, alpha radiation) An electrically

charged particle made of two protons and two charged particle made of two protons and two neutrons. These are thrown off by many neutrons. These are thrown off by many radioactive materials, including uranium and radioactive materials, including uranium and radium. An alpha particle is identical to the radium. An alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of a helium atom.nucleus of a helium atom.

Symbol: Symbol:

AtomAtom The smallest piece of an element. They are The smallest piece of an element. They are

made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons and the number of protons determines the kind.and the number of protons determines the kind.

Background RadiationBackground Radiation The ionizing radiation always present in nature The ionizing radiation always present in nature

from cosmic rays or from radioactive materials from cosmic rays or from radioactive materials in the air, water, food, ground, building in the air, water, food, ground, building materials, and some consumer products.materials, and some consumer products.

Beta ParticleBeta Particle (beta ray, beta radiation) An electrically (beta ray, beta radiation) An electrically

charged particle thrown off by many charged particle thrown off by many radioactive materials. If is a free moving radioactive materials. If is a free moving electron and possesses the smallest negative electron and possesses the smallest negative charge found in nature. Beta particles come charge found in nature. Beta particles come out of radioactive atoms at high speeds.out of radioactive atoms at high speeds.

Symbol: ßSymbol: ß

ContaminationContamination Radioactive material deposited or dispersed in Radioactive material deposited or dispersed in

materials or places where it is not wanted.materials or places where it is not wanted.

Curie (Ci)Curie (Ci) A measure of the rate at which radioactive A measure of the rate at which radioactive

material throws off particles or radiation. It is material throws off particles or radiation. It is named in honor of the French chemists, Marie named in honor of the French chemists, Marie and Pierre Curie. One curie is equal to the and Pierre Curie. One curie is equal to the activity in one gram of radium.activity in one gram of radium.

Becquerel (Bq)Becquerel (Bq) The SI (metric) unit of radioactivity in a The SI (metric) unit of radioactivity in a

material. One Bq measures one disintegration material. One Bq measures one disintegration per second.per second.

Gamma RaysGamma Rays (gamma radiation) A form of ionizing (gamma radiation) A form of ionizing

radiation energy (the same as X-rays) given radiation energy (the same as X-rays) given off when the nucleus of some radioactive off when the nucleus of some radioactive materials disintegrate.materials disintegrate.

Symbol: Symbol:

Half-lifeHalf-life The amount of time it takes for one half of a

group of radioactive atoms to decay. Symbol: (tSymbol: (t1/21/2))

IonizationIonization A process by which atoms lose one or more electrons and are

left with a positive electrical charge. Some atoms gain an electron and are negatively charged.

Radiation hitting clouds (or groups) of atoms changes some of them into ions, some positive and some negative.

QuarkQuark A sub-nuclear, fundamental particle of matter A sub-nuclear, fundamental particle of matter

that makes up protons and neutrons.that makes up protons and neutrons.

quark Flavor Mass (GeV/e2) Electric charge(e)

u up 0.004 +2/3

d down 0.008 -1/3

c Charm 1.5 +2/3

s Strange 0.15 -1/3

t top 176 +2/3

b bottom 4.7 -1/3

IsotopeIsotope Atoms of the same chemical element having Atoms of the same chemical element having

the same number of protons (the same atomic the same number of protons (the same atomic number) but with a different number of number) but with a different number of neutrons (different atomic weights). Some neutrons (different atomic weights). Some isotopes are radioactive (radioisotopes) and isotopes are radioactive (radioisotopes) and some are not (stable).some are not (stable).

NeutronNeutron A basic atomic particle, having no electrical A basic atomic particle, having no electrical

charge, found in the nucleus of atoms. It has charge, found in the nucleus of atoms. It has an atomic weight of one.an atomic weight of one.

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy Energy released when the nucleus of an atom Energy released when the nucleus of an atom

splits (fission), joins with another nucleus splits (fission), joins with another nucleus (fusion), or disintegrates (radiation). Nuclear (fusion), or disintegrates (radiation). Nuclear energy is the most exact terms to describe the energy is the most exact terms to describe the energy produced in a nuclear reactor.energy produced in a nuclear reactor.

Nuclear ReactorNuclear Reactor A device in which a nuclear fission chain

reaction takes place.

Particle AcceleratorParticle Accelerator An electric device for speeding up electrically An electric device for speeding up electrically

charged particles such as electrons and charged particles such as electrons and protons. These are then used for smashing into protons. These are then used for smashing into atoms at high speeds. This allows scientists to atoms at high speeds. This allows scientists to study the particles and forces that make up study the particles and forces that make up atoms.atoms.

RADRAD A unit of measure of how much radiation A unit of measure of how much radiation

energy something absorbs when exposed to a energy something absorbs when exposed to a radiation source.radiation source.

Gray (Gy)Gray (Gy) The SI (metric) equivalent of a rad. One gray The SI (metric) equivalent of a rad. One gray

is equal to 100 rads.is equal to 100 rads.

RadiationRadiation The energetic particles or rays thrown out by The energetic particles or rays thrown out by

radioactive elements or produced by X-ray radioactive elements or produced by X-ray machines. The best term for atomic radiation is machines. The best term for atomic radiation is ionizing radiation, because sound waves, light ionizing radiation, because sound waves, light waves, and radio waves are also kinds of waves, and radio waves are also kinds of radiation.radiation.

Ionizing Non-Ionizing

Alpha ()Beta ()

Gamma () X-Rays

Neutrons

Radio wavesMicrowaves

InfraredUltraviolet

Visible Light

RadioactivityRadioactivity The throwing out of charged particles or The throwing out of charged particles or

gamma rays from the nucleus of the atom. gamma rays from the nucleus of the atom. Some elements are naturally radioactive, while Some elements are naturally radioactive, while others can be made radioactive by squeezing others can be made radioactive by squeezing extra neutrons into the nucleus.extra neutrons into the nucleus.

Radon (Rn)Radon (Rn) A heavy radioactive gas given off by rocks A heavy radioactive gas given off by rocks

containing radium (or thorium). Rn-222 is the containing radium (or thorium). Rn-222 is the main isotope.main isotope.

RemRem A unit describing the intensity of radiation, the A unit describing the intensity of radiation, the

type of radiation, and the effect on the body.type of radiation, and the effect on the body.

Sievert (Sv)Sievert (Sv) The SI equivalent of the rem. One sievert is The SI equivalent of the rem. One sievert is

equal to 100 rem.equal to 100 rem.

X-rayX-ray Radiation produced inside a Radiation produced inside a

vacuum tube when high-vacuum tube when high-speed electrons hit a metal speed electrons hit a metal target. When these rays pass target. When these rays pass through an object, they give through an object, they give a shadow picture of the a shadow picture of the denser portions. They must denser portions. They must be used carefully because of be used carefully because of their ability to ionize atoms their ability to ionize atoms in the body.in the body.

We Covered:We Covered:Requirement #1

ALARAALARA Alpha Alpha ParticleParticle AtomAtom BackgrounBackgroun

ddBeta Beta

ParticleParticleContaminatiContaminati

onon Curie (Ci)Curie (Ci) Becquerel Becquerel (Bq)(Bq)

Gamma RayGamma Ray Half-lifeHalf-life IonizatioIonizationn QuarkQuark

IsotopeIsotope NeutronNeutron Nuclear Nuclear EnergyEnergy

Nuclear Nuclear ReactorReactor

Particle Particle AcceleratorAccelerator RadRad Gray (Gy)Gray (Gy) RadiationRadiation

RadioactivitRadioactivityy Radon (Rn)Radon (Rn) RemRem Sievert (Sv)Sievert (Sv)

X-RayX-Ray