Term
| radioactivity results from |
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Definition
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Term
| process whereby unstable atomic nuclei transform and emit radiation |
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Definition
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Term
| how long has radioactivity existed? |
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Definition
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Term
| unstable atomic nuclei: (2) |
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Definition
| -have an imbalance of neutrons to protons, -are radioactive |
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Term
| most radiation we encounter is: (2) |
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Definition
| - natural background radiation that originates in Earth and space (cosmic rays from the Sun and stars), - more intense at higher altitudes |
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Definition
-high-energy PARTICLES
-high-frequency electromagnetic RADIATION (gamma) |
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Term
| cosmic rays affect us directly/indirectly. Why? |
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Definition
| indirectly. turn nitrogen in air into radiation that gets in the plants we consume |
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Term
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Definition
| alpha(+) beta(-) and gamma(0) |
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Term
| alpha particles consist of: |
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Definition
| two protons and two neutrons (helium); loses e* quickly; |
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Term
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Definition
| is an ejected electron from a neutron; smaller mass than alpha; |
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Definition
| are hgih-frequency electromagnetic radiation; most harmful; most penetrating bc have no mass and no charge |
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Term
| a strong nucleaur force is |
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Definition
| a very distance sensitive attraction between nucleons |
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Term
| in a strong nuclear force, what helps hold the nucleus together? |
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Definition
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Term
| the rate of decay for a radioactive isotope |
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Definition
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Term
| the shorter the half-life of a substance=> |
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Definition
| the faster it disintegrates and the more active the substance |
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Term
| the changing of one chemical element to another |
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Definition
| transmutation of elements |
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Term
| what types of situations will transmutations on an element occur |
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Definition
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Term
| transmutation: alpha emission |
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Definition
-mass number decreases by 4
- atomic number decreases by 2 |
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Term
| transmutation: beta transmutation |
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Definition
-no change in mass number
-atomic number decreases by 1 |
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Term
| transmutation: gamma transmutation |
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Definition
no change in mass number
-no change in atomic number |
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Definition
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Term
| nuclear fission: energy released in the form if KE of fission fragments that fly apart from one another, with some energy given to ____ and the remainder to _____ |
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Definition
| ejected neutrons; gamma radiation |
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Term
| a self-sustaining reaction in which the products of one reaction event stimulate further reaction events |
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Definition
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Term
| the minimum mass of fissionable material in a reactor or nuclear bomb that will sustain a chain reaction |
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Definition
| critical mass (a mass large enough to sustain fission) |
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Term
| an explosion occurs where in relation to critical mass |
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Definition
| at or above critical mass |
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Term
| the more energy associated with a particle, the greater the ____ of the particle |
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Definition
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Term
| the mass of a nucleon outside the mucleus is greater/less than the same nucleon bound in the nucleus |
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Definition
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Term
| note: although hydrogen has is the lightest element, its lone proton has a greater mass than any other element, therefore it has the highest |
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Definition
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Term
| the combination of nuclei of light atoms to form heavier nuclei with the release of much energy |
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Definition
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Term
| ____ is the "nuclear sink" for energy production |
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Definition
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Term
| all reactions, nuclear or chemical lose/gain mass when energy release is the outcome |
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Definition
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