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Nuclear Reactions
Unit 4-Nuclear Reactions
Term | Definition |
---|---|
alpha decay | process by which an alpha particle is released from a decaying nucleus |
alpha particle | Helium nucleus composed to two protons and two neutrons |
beta decay | process by which an unstable nucleus emits an electron |
beta particle | electron emitted from the nucleus in beta decay |
fission | process of splitting a nucleus into several smaller nuclei; process used to produce nuclear power |
fusion | two nuclei with low masses are combined to form one larger nucleus; occurs in the sun and stars |
gamma ray | high energy electromagnetic waves; emitted when alpha and beta decay occur |
half life | amount of time it takes for half the nuclei in a sample of radioactive isotope to decay to a stable isotope |
nuclear energy | energy converted from mass during a fission reaction |
radioactivity | process of nuclear decay in which the nucleus can give off matter and energy |
transmutation | process of changing from one element to another through nuclear decay |