Nuclear and Particle Physics Flashcards
A proton has a mass of approximately one ____ _____ ____ (u)
atmoic mass unit
The total number of neutrons and protons in an atom is called the ______ _______ (A) of that element.
mass number
The symbol _____ is used to show both the atomic number and the mass number of an X atom, where Z is the atomic number and A is the mass number.
X (Asuperscore, Zunderscore)
Isotope definition
atoms containing the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Mass is converted into ______ _______ energy to hold the nucleus together.
nuclear binding
Strong nuclear force definition
the force that holds the protons together in the nucleus, despite the fact that there is an electrostatic repulsion between them
Four types of radioactive decay:
alpha, beta, gamma, and positron
Alpha decay definition
When an element emits an alpha particle, its nucleus loses 2 atomic numbers and 4 mass numbers, and thus changes into another element, called the daughter element.
Calculating the daughter element
Subtract 2 from the Z value and 4 from the A value
Beta Decay definition
an electron emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive element. Beta decay is essentially just a neutron emitting an electron and becoming a proton
Calculating the daughter element of beta decay
A stays the same (mass number) but we add one to the atomic number
Gamma decay definition
Some radioactive elements emit a gamma ray, a very high energy electromagnetic wave that has no charge or mass. ONLY the energy of the nucleus changes during gamma ray emission and neither Z nor A changes
Positron decay definition
A positron is exactly like an electron except for the fact that it is positively charged. A positron is not a proton, as their masses and other features are very different.
Half-life definition
the time it takes for half of the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay.
Fusion definition
when small nuclei combine into larger nuclei and energy is released. Many stars (including the sun) power themselves by fusing four hydrogen nuclei to make one helium nucleus. No harmful radioactive products are produced as a result of this reaction.
