Atomic, nuclear and particle

Question 1

Alpha particle

Answer 1

helium nucleus emitted during radioactive decay

Question 2

Antineutrino -v

Answer 2

particle emitted with a beta -ve particle

Question 3

Atomic number (Z)

Answer 3

number of protons in a nucleus

Question 4

background radiation

Answer 4

the radiation we are constantly exposed to from both natural and artificial sources

Question 5

beta negative particle β

Answer 5

an electron emitted from the nucleus

Question 6

beta positive particle β

Answer 6

an positive electron (positron) emitted from the nucleus

Question 7

gamma particle

Answer 7

a photon emitted during radioactive decay

Question 8

Isotope

Answer 8

nucleus with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons

Question 9

Mass number (A)

Answer 9

total number of protons and neutrons within a nucleus

Question 10

Neutrino ν

Answer 10

particle emitted with a beta positive particle

Question 11

nuclear fission

Answer 11

a large nucleus splitting into smaller nuclei

Question 12

nuclear fusion

Answer 12

smaller nuclei combining to form a larger nucleus

Question 13

nucleon

Answer 13

any particle within a nucleus (i.e. proton or neutron)

Question 14

Photon

Answer 14

a packet of energy that makes up light, and transmits the electromagnetic force

Question 15

radioactive half life

Answer 15

the time taken for half the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay