2.3

Question 1

Energy is produced in the annihilation of particles. What does this provide evidence for?

Answer 1

Antimatter

Question 2

How does beta decay occur?

Answer 2

In beta decay, an up quark changes to a down quark, causing the nucleus to change from a neutron to a proton. This causes the release of an high energy electron, called a beta particle.

Question 3

What happens to the mass number during beta decay?

Answer 3

will remain unchanged

Question 4

What happens to the atomic number during beta decay?

Answer 4

will increase by 1

Question 5

What subatomic particle does beta decay provide evidence for?

Answer 5

the neutrino

Question 6

What is gamma decay?

Answer 6

a high-energy electromagnetic wave is emitted from the nucleus of an atom in an attempt for it to become more stable

Question 7

What happens to the mass and atomic number during a gamma decay?

Answer 7

remain unchanged

Question 8

What is an alpha particle?

Answer 8

a helium nucleus - two protons and two neutrons

Question 9

What is alpha decay?

Answer 9

an alpha particle is emitted from the nucleus of an atom.

Question 10

What happens to the mass number during alpha decay?

Answer 10

will decrease by 4

Question 11

What happens to the atomic number during alpha decay?

Answer 11

will decrease by 2

Question 12

What is a beta particle?

Answer 12

A fast moving electron

Question 13

What are gamma waves?

Answer 13

A high-energy wave of the electromagnetic spectrum

Question 14

What is the charge of a alpha particle?

Answer 14

2+

Question 15

What is the charge of a beta particle?

Answer 15

1-

Question 16

What is the charge of gamma waves?

Answer 16

0

Question 17

What is an isotope?

Answer 17

Atoms that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Question 18

Draw the nuclide notation of a carbon atom with 8 neutrons

Answer 18

atomic mass = 14 (top beside atom)
atomic number = 6

Question 19

What is relative atomic mass?

Answer 19

the average weighted mass of the isotopes of that element

Question 20

What is the nuclide notation for an alpha particle?

Answer 20

4
He
2

Question 21

What is the nuclide notation for a beta particle?

Answer 21

0
e
-1

Question 22

What is the nuclide notation for a proton?

Answer 22

1
p
1

Question 23

Write the equation for Uranium emitting an alpha particle

Answer 23

235 231 4
U = Th + He
92 90 2

Question 24

Write the equation for Carbon 14 emitting a beta particle

Answer 24

14 14 0
C = N + e
6 7 -1

Question 25

Describe how nuclear fission reactions are used to generate energy

Answer 25

Energy is released when a large unstable nucleus is made to split into smaller nuclei and some neutrons. The neutrons then cause more nuclei to split, releasing more energy and more neutrons. This is a chain reaction.

Question 26

Give 2 applications of nuclear fission

Answer 26

Energy production
Nuclear bombs

Question 27

Describe the process of nuclear fusion reactions

Answer 27

Two small nuclei are fused together to form a larger nucleus. This generates energy.

Question 28

Give an application of nuclear fusion

Answer 28

Energy production

Question 29

Where does nuclear fusion occur naturally?

Answer 29

Within stars

Question 30

What important issue must be overcome for us to harness nuclear fusion?

Answer 30

Plasma containment. Magnetic fields must be used to overcome this issue

Question 31

Break down the equation E = mc^2

Answer 31

E = energy (J)
m = mass (kg)
c = speed of light (ms^-1)

Question 32

What important conclusion can be made from this equation?

Answer 32

Energy and mass are equivalent