Ivestigate Radioactivity

• Nuclear Radiation


  A nuclear reaction occurs when one atom converts into a different type of atom
• Nuclear Radiation


  • This requires a change in the nucleus
  • The protons and neutrons in a nucleus are constantly moving and rearranging
  • Sometimes, this causes them to emit high energy electromagnetic radiation and particles
• Nuclear Decay


  The emission of high energy electromagnetic radiation and particles from the nucleus
• Types of nuclear decay

  • Alpha decay - releases a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons are lost)
  • Beta Decay - neutron decays to become a proton (kept in the nucleus) and electron (is released)
  • Gamma decay - gamma rays are produced
• Radiation

  • Alpha (Symbol: α, Composition: Helium Nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons), Mass: 4 amu, Charge: Positive)
  • Beta (Symbol: β, Composition: One electron, Mass: 1/1837 amu, Charge: Negative)
  • Gamma (Symbol: γ, Composition: Gamma ray, Mass: None, Charge: None)
• Radioisotopes

  Atoms with an unstable nucleus that undergo nuclear decay
• Most atoms have a stable nucleus and do not undergo nuclear decay
• Half-Life

  The time it takes for half the nucleus in a sample of a radioisotope to decay