Nuclear Reactions

Question 1

Neutrino and antineutrino

Answer 1

product of radioactive decay and nuclear reactions.
Doesn’t interact well with matter
Charge: 0
Mass: Nearly 0

Question 2

Alpha Particle

Answer 2

Nucleus of Helium atom with no electrons
2 protons + 2 neutrons
Charge: +2
Mass: 4.00
Interacts with magnetic fields and electric fields

Question 3

Beta Particle

Answer 3

Electron emitted from nucleus when transmutation occurs
Neutrons can split into 1 proton and electron (beta particle) and antineutrino (can be ignored)
Atomic number of -1 due to charge
Mass too small to have a big impact on atomic mass (0.00055)

Question 4

Gamma Radiation

Answer 4

When nucleons drop to lower energy levels, stronger photons emitted compared to electrons drop lower energy levels.
These energetic photons are gamma rays (γ), a form of electromagnetic radiation
No mass or charge, so not affected by electric or magnetic fields.

Question 5

Strong force

Answer 5

The strong force attracts nucleons to one another: protons to protons, neutrons to neutrons and protons to neutrons.
If a proton is moved away from the center of the atom, the strong force weakens, then electrostatic force repels more than strong force attracts.
Too many/few protons/neutrons, strong force weakens and transmutation occurs as protons and neutrons are ejected.

Question 6

Mass-energy equivalence

Answer 6

E = Δm * c^2

Question 7

Alpha Decay

Answer 7

When atom loses an alpha particle

• 4 atomic mass
• 2 atomic number

Question 8

Beta Decay

Answer 8

When beta particle is ejected from an atom
+0 atomic mass (electron mass doesn’t matter)
+1 atomic number (as electron is removed, charge becomes positive)

Question 9

Fission

Answer 9

Splitting Large atoms into smaller ones

Question 10

Fusion

Answer 10

Combining smaller atoms into larger ones