Nuclear/decay

Question 1

atomic number

Answer 1

bottom, number of protons

Question 2

atomic mass

Answer 2

top number, protons and neutrons

Question 3

what does stable mean

Answer 3

not radioactive

Question 4

isotope

Answer 4

different neutrons, different mass numbers same atomic

Question 5

alpha decay

Answer 5

element loses protons and forms new element, loses same amount of protons/neutrons (emits alpha particle, 2 protons/neutrons), pb —- Fe + 4 a etc

Question 6

beta decay

Answer 6

too many neutrons, emits electron and turns a neutron to proton and makes new element, atomic mass/number dont change

Question 7

heavy and light elements

Answer 7

heavy=alpha, light=beta

Question 8

gamma decay

Answer 8

after beta decay, as nucleus still excited and energy releases gamma rays (y rays), travel at light speed, x rays emitted when electrons change orbit, electromagnetic radiation emitted

Question 9

alpha particles

Answer 9

bulkier than beta, slowed easily by things like paper, 4 atomic mass, +2 charge, 2 protons and 2 neutrons

Question 10

beta particles

Answer 10

need thick plastic/aluminium NOT THIN LEAD, not bulky, -1 charge, an ELECTRON, dont travel far, when electron stops it releases an xray

Question 11

gamma ray

Answer 11

stopped by thick lead, no mass/charge, travels far

Question 12

activity

Answer 12

amount of radioactivity (becquerels)

Question 13

half life

Answer 13

time it takes for radioactive nuclei to half

Question 14

rate of decay

Answer 14

measured by decay constant and half life, both inversely proportional (higher decay constant means lower half life)

Question 15

equation and what does C and C(o) mean

Answer 15

C=C(o)EXP(-At), C is concentration at end of decay, C(o) is concentration before

Question 16

einsten principle of mass/energy

Answer 16

E=mc(2), m is mass, c is speed of light, means sum of nucleus is less than the contents combined, about how mass turns to energy

Question 17

mass defect

Answer 17

when mass of nucleus weighs less than the contents

Question 18

Fusion

Answer 18

putting light elements together to make heavy elements but heavier elements are lighter than light elements as some goes to energy, sun uses fusion, good waste

Question 19

fission

Answer 19

splitting heavy elements to light ones which releases energy, all nuclear reactors use this, bad waste

Question 20

binding energy

Answer 20

amount of energy needed to split constituents in the nucleus, depends on mass number