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science 8 ch 16
chapter 16 notes/terms to know
Question | Answer |
---|---|
nuclear radiation | high energy particles and rays given off by the nuclei of some atoms |
radioactivity or radioactive decay | the process by which some nuclei give off nuclear radiation |
Alpha decay | is the release of an alpha particle from a nucleus. an alpha particle is in fact helium-4. can not penetrate paper. |
Beta decay | is the release of a beta particle from the nucleus. there are two types:a neutron breaks into a proton and electron, and a proton breaks into a positron and a neutron. (Figure 3)Cant penetrate aluminum foil. |
isotopes | Atoms that have the same number of protons as other atoms of the same element do, but different numbers of neutrons. |
Gamma decay | involves the release of gamma rays from a nucleus. this energy is in the form of very high energy light, and have no mass or charge. cannot penetrate concrete blocks. |
half-life | the amount of time it takes one-half of the nuclei of a radioactive isotope to decay. |
Nuclear fission | the process in which a large radioactive nucleus splits into two small nuclei and releases energy. |
nuclear chain reaction | a continuous series of nuclear fission reactions. |
nuclear fusion | 2 or more nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus. (need plasma) |