Half-life, fission and radiation safety: Half-life calculations, decay graphs, induced fission chain reactions and the biological effects of ionising radiation

What this note covers

1. Where this material sits in Criterion 4, and the limits the course sets
2. Half-life: one definition, four different quantities
3. Whole-number half-life calculations: the four-line method
4. Reading decay graphs and dealing with background radiation
5. Induced fission and chain reactions
6. Ionising radiation: penetration, ionising ability and biological effect
7. How this topic is examined in Section A, and what separates a top answer

7 sections · 12 key terms & formulas · 6 common mistakes