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Nuclear Changes
Phy. Science Chapter 10
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Radioactive Decay | The disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus into one or more different nuclides |
| Nuclear Radiation | The particles that are released from the nucleus during radioactive decay |
| Alpha Particle | A positively charged particle that consists of two protons and two neutrons and that is emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay |
| Beta Particle | An electron or positron that is emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay |
| Gamma Ray | The high energy photon emitted by a nucleus during fission and radioactive decay |
| Half-life | The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down by radioactive decay to form a daughter isotope |
| Fission | The process by which a nucleus splits into two or more fragments and releases neutrons and energy |
| Nuclear Chain Reaction | A continuous series of nuclear fission reactions |
| Critical Mass | The minimum mass of a fissionable isotope that provides the number of neutrons needed to sustain a chain reaction |
| Fusion | The process in which light nuclei combine at extremely high temperatures, forming heavier nuclei and releasing energy |