radiation

• alpha decay


  same as helium nucleus

  in equations: -4 top number, -2 bottom number
• beta decay

  proton becomes electron

  electron ejected from nucleus very quickly

  in equations: same top number, +1 bottom number
• gamma decay


  not a particle

  electromagnetic
• penetration power

  
• isotope 


  same element w/ a different number of neutrons
• radioactive decay

  when unstable isotopes give out radiation from nucleus to become stable
• radioactive decay is a random process