Question | Answer |
Define radiation | Energy emitted from an atom/of a decaying atom |
What is a doubly strong nucelus | protons and neutrons are together in configurations so that they don't fall apart quickly (strong force) |
Define radioactivity | when an unstable atom loses subatomic particles and energy until they are stable. |
define the strong force | the neutrons that hold protons together in the nucleus. |
how would an element with more than 83 protons become stable? | through alpha decay |
equation for alpha decay | element>helium+2 elements down |
for which kinds of elements would beta decay occur in? | elements that have less than 83 protons but have too many neutrons |
equation for beta decay | element>electron +1 element up |
for which kind of elements would electron capture occur in? | elements that have less than 83 protons but too few neutrons compared to the stable one on the periodic table |
equation for electron capture | element+electron>1 element down |
for which kind of elements would positron emission occur in? | elements that have less than 83 protons but too many neutrons compared to the stable one on the periodic table |
equation for positron emission | element>positron+1 element |
define a half-life | the time that it takes for 1/2 of a simple to decay |
what is the use of radioactive dating | used to measure the ages of rocks and fossils |
if something is less radioactive, will the decay be faster or slower? | slower |
when analyzing a body, how do scientists use the C-14? | the more C-14 there is in a body, the younger it is, because things like eating and drinking raise our level of C-14 (radiation). |
equation to find out the # of half-lives | total time passed/length of a half-life |
equation to find out the amount left | OG amount*0.5^#of half lives |
transmutation | the conversion of one element into another |
all elements with over how many protons are artificial? | 92 |
where does transmutation occur | nuclear decay, fission, and fusion |
nuclear fission | splitting a nucleus into 2 or more elements |
explain the process of nuclear fission | neutron bullet; splitting an atom |
Explain E=mc^2 | energy can have mass so when neutrons and atoms split, their total weight is a bit less than the original neutron and atom |
why doesn't 3% pure uranium go through nuclear fission very well? | when one atom splits, some can split into another pure uranium, but another might be an unstable uranium, which means that that atom will not split. |
what is critical mass | the minimum amount of material needed for one neutron from each fission to cause another fission event |
what can control the speed of the fission reaction | cadmium and boron rods |
nuclear fusion | when two nuclei are combined |
where else does nuclear fusion occur | in stars; more energy released compared to nuclear fission |
what happens in the process of fusion | 2 hydrogen atoms smash together to make a helium atom |
what does 1 kg of uranium equal | 30 freight cars of coal |
what three important parts are there in a nuclear reactor | nuclear fuel, control rods, and liquid |
job of nuclear fuel | (usually uranium) create energy |
job of control rods | control the nuclear fission by absorbing neutrons |
job of the liquid | heat transfer; the steam turns the turbine to produce electricity |
define nucleosynthesis | the production of new elements from nuclear reactions |
how do astronomers tell what a star is made of | use the atomic spectrum and the elements will show color. |