| Question |
Answer |
| radioactive element |
elements that emit alpha, beta or gamma radiation |
| alpha particle |
two protons and two neutrons or a nucleus of a helium atom |
| beta particle |
an electron ejected by an atomic nucleus |
| gamma radiation |
extremely energetic form of radiation with no charge and no mass |
| strong nuclear force |
very strong force that holds the nucleus together |
| transmutation |
when one element changes to another by emitting an alpha or beta |
| half-life |
time needed for half the radioactive atoms to decay |
| fission |
splitting of atomic nucleus into parts; releases energy |
| chain reaction |
occurs when the product of the reaction starts another reaction |
| fusion |
small nuclei fuse together producing energy |
