L2: Radioactive Decay

• WILHELM ROENTGEN


  discovered x-ray
• ANTOINE HENRI BECQUEREL


  identified radioactivity
• MARIE CURIE W/ PIERRE CURIE

  discovered radium & polonium
• RADIOACTIVITY

  • spontaneous emission of certain radiations
• BECEQUEREL RAYS

  • alpa
  • beta
  • gamma
• ALPHA

  • least penetrating, most ionizing
• BETA

  • can pass through paper, but not aluminum
• GAMMA

  • can penetrate solid lead & body tissue
• RADIOACTIVE DECAY

  • spontaneous process
  • involves emission of some particles
• ALPHA DECAY

  • emission of alpha particle, formation of new element Helium is always present
• BETA DECAY

  • emission of beta particle (electron & positron)
  • where V (written w/ a bar on top), is a subatomic particle (neutrino) that is faster than light
• GAMMA DECAY

  • emission of electromagnetic radiation