Question | Answer |
a proton or neutron | nucleon |
the general term for any isotope of any element; another term for an atom that is identified by the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus | nuclide |
the difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of its protons, neutrons, and electrons | mass defect |
the energy released when a nucleus is formed from nucleons | nuclear binding energy |
nucleons exist in different energy levels, or shells, in the nucleus | nuclear shell models |
the numbers of nucleons that represent completed nuclear energy levels (2,8,20,28,50,82, and 126) | magic numbers |
a reaction that affects the nucleus of an atom | nuclear reaction |
a chnage in the identity of a nucleus as a result of a change in the number of its protons | transmutation |
the spontaneous disntegration of a nucleus into a slightly lighter and more stable nucleus, accompanied by emission of particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both | radioactive decay |
the particles or electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay | nuclear radiation |
an unstable nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay | radioactive nuclide |
two protons and two neutrons bound together and emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay | alpha particle |
an electron emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive dacay | beta particle |
a particle that has the same mass as an electron but that has a postive charge, and is emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay | positron |
the process in which an inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus of its own atom | electron capture |
a high energy electromagnetic wave emitted from a nucleus as it changes from an excited state to a ground energy state | gamma ray |
the time required for half the atoms of a radioactive nuclide to decay | half life |
a series of radioactive nuclides produced by successive radioactive decay until a stable nuclide is reached | decay series |
the heaviest nuclide of each decay series | parent nuclide |
a nuclide produced by the decay of a parent nuclide | daughter nuclide |
bombardment of stable nuclei with charged and uncharged particles | artificial transmutation |
an element with more than 92 protons in its nucleus | transuranium element |
a unit used to measure nuclear radiation; equal to the amount of radiation that produces 2 X 10^-9 ion pairs when it passes through 1cm^3 of dry air | roentgen |
the quantity of ionizing radiation that does as much damage to human tissue as is done by 1 roentgen of high voltage Xrays | rem |
a device used that uses exposure of film to measure the approximate radiation exposure of people working with radiation | film badge |
an instrument taht detects radiation by counting electric pulses carried by gas ionized by radiation | Geiger-Muller counter |
an instrument that converts scintillating ligth to an electric signal for detecting radiation | scintillation counter |
the process by which the approximate age of an object is determined based on the amount of certain radioactive nuclides present | radioactive dating |
a radioactive atom that is incorporated into a substance so that movement of the substance can be followed by a radiation detector | radioactive tracer |
a process in which a very heavy nucleus splits into more stable nuclei of intermediate mass | nuclear fission |
the combining of light mass nuclei to form a heavier, more stable nucleus | nuclear fusion |
a reactio in which the material that starts the reaction is also one of the products and can start another reaction | chain reaction |
the minimum amount of nuclide that provides the number of neutrons needed to sustain a chain reaction | critical mass |
a device that uses controlled fission chain reactions to produce energy or radioactive nuclides | nuclear reactor |
a facility that uses heat from nucleus reactors to produce electrical energy | nuclear power plant |
radiation-absorbing material that is used to decrease radiation exposure from nuclear reactors, especially gamma rays | shielding |
a neutron-absorbing rod taht elps control a nuclear reaction by limiting the number of free neutrons | control rod |
a material used to slow down the fast neutrons produced by fission | moderator |