Radioactivity In Ionisation Smoke Alarms Environmental Sciences Essay

Radioactivity In Ionisation stinkpot Alarms Environmental Sciences EssayIn this coursework, I volition be discussing the piece of radioactivity in ionisation can alarms I pull up stakes management primarily on the main radioactive substance used in gauge alarms, americium 241, and will analyse its effects as wellhead as its half life. I will likewise analyse a variety of information based on heap alarms, and fin each(prenominal)y, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tidy sum alarms.In smoke detectors, Alpha radiation is presumptuousness off. Alpha particles be made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. This means that they hand over a charge of +2, and a mass of 4. Alpha particles ar comparatively slow and heavy. Alpha emitters must be used for smoke detectors since of import particles ionise air the most, are mostly likely to be cloaked by cells and are least penetrating. Gamma rays and beta particles easily dig through air with extinct causing ionisation, genus Beta particles are absorbed by a thin sheet of Aluminium and Gamma is absorbed by either concrete or thick lead.The radiation given out from the smoke detector is essentially zero and in any look real much less than that from natural background radiation. This is the radiation which all around us. The alpha particlesare absorbed within the detector. The small fall of radioactive material that is used in these detectors is not a wellness hazard and individual units can be disposed of in natural household waste. that, Alpha radiation is most dangerous inside the body because it is most likely to be absorbed by the organs whereas Beta and Gamma radiation is more dangerous outside the body because the grate cannot stop them. americium-241 is dangerous if it is taken into the body in soluble form.The selective information which I mainly used for my coursework was from www.communities.gov.uk. I recall this website is reli satisfactory and indicateable because it is a gove rnment website. It has not been created for the purpose of sale so it isnt biased. However in that location are a few problems with this website. The problem lies in the data which shows how the % of homes with smoke alarms has changed between 1988-2005. This data is unreliable and invalid. It is invalid because they change from smoke alarm ownership to working smoke alarm ownership in conclusion to that it too has data missing from somewhat years. It is not as valid as it should be because it not the same as what was cosmos looked at in the beginning. But as for the rest of the information, I think it is reliable and valid because it is a government website, not any website right put up on to the internet.The way in which we could make convinced(predicate) that the data we have it valid and reliable is by comparing them with unexampled(prenominal) results from other sources. By doing this we would be able to see if they are comparable or they are different and we would be able to find out if they are correct or not.The results which I got could be improved if they were stash away in a number of different ways. For example data could be store from the history of the emergency services, data could also be collected by handing out questionnaires and surveys or even collected via the phone.Advantages and Disadvantages of Smoke Alarms at that place are numerous benefits of a smoke alarm and many disadvantages. beneath are some advantages of a smoke alarm.Firstly the most grave benefit of a smoke alarm is that it saves lives. Smoke alarms are a powerful and effective chevy safety technology. The smoke detector also allows the emergency services to react quicker so they are able to get to the fire quicker and save lives.The most important matter is the life of a person. Besides this, a smoke detector also saves money and quality. Some people may have money stored at home. For these people it would be a great loss if they were to lose e reallything i n a fire. With a smoke detector, a person is able to apace put out the fire so a lot of the property does not get damaged.Another advantage is that the americium-241 is very sensitive. Ionization smoke alarms respond first to fast flaming fires. A flaming fire consumes flammable extremely fast, spreads rapidly and generates considerable heat with little smoke. It responds very quickly to small amounts of smoke.Americium-241 has a half life of 442 which is not too long or too short. It is just right. If it had a long half-life hence it wouldnt have to be replaced very often but it would stop dangerous for a long time. If it had a short half-life then it would fall to safe level quickly but it would have to be replaced very often. The Americium is just right, not too short or too long, in the middle.One advantage is that to have a smoke detector reduces the insurance cost. This is because a house which has a smoke detector has less chance of burning down because the smoke alarm w ill detect the fire so the occupants are able to put it off. For this reason there is cheaper insurance for the house which has a smoke alarm.Finally, smoke alarms are very cheap. They are even free for many houses but for some people who have to buy it, it is of a very low price.With the advantages, there are also disadvantages of smoke detectors. Below are some disadvantages of smoke alarms.The life-sizedgest disadvantage is that it contains a very small amount of radioactive material. These devices are probably not a problem unless they burn, in which case the Americium would be released in particulate form an inhalation hazard.Another big disadvantage is that it is a bit too sensitive. It can be defenseless to nuisance alarms if placed too close to cooking. It goes off many times especially if it is kept near a kitchen. This can be very annoying especially if it happens repeatedly.One disadvantage is that because there are many smoke alarms which give out radiation in this c ountry, they will be radioactive for 1000 of years. The radioactivity in the environment will increase. The inclination of this type of smoke alarm is very harmful, when the building is demolished and new buildings are made, the smoke alarm still emits radioactivity which is not ripe(p) for the environment.Finally, another disadvantage is that it works on battery and after a long period, the battery runs out. Therefore, smoke detector stops working so the batteries have to be replaced.Overall, I think that smoke detectors are safe because it could save a persons life if a fire was to occur and its also very cheap to buy but it has it drawbacks that it emits radioactive material, however the advantages outstrip the disadvantages.