P6.1

Question 1

Why do the nuclei of different elements have different masses?

Answer 1

An atom can have a different number in neutrons which changes the mass of the nucleus without changing the charge.

Question 2

What do unstable nuclei emit?

Answer 2

The nuclei of atoms that are unstable emit radiation. This radiation can be made up of particles or waves
Materials that emit radiation and radioactive.

Question 3

What is alpha radiation

Answer 3

It is the nucleus of a helium atom
Type: particle
Symbol: a
Equation symbol: 4
                                  He
                               2

Question 4

What is beta radiation?

Answer 4

It is a fast moving electron 
Type: particle 
Symbol: ß
Equation symbol: 0
                                  e
                              -1

Question 5

What is gamma radiation?

Answer 5

It is a wave of the electromagnetic spectrum
Symbol: Y
Type: electromagnetic wave
Equation symbol: none

Question 6

What is neutron radiation?

Answer 6

A particle in the nucleus
Type: particle
Symbol: n
Equation symbol: 1
                                  n
                               0

Question 7

Neutrons can decay to make a proton and an electron

Answer 7

.

Question 8

How do you detect radiation?

Answer 8

Using a Geiger muller counter
The device clicks when radiation enters it
Each click is a tiny current

Question 9

What happens in beta decay?

Answer 9

A neutron decays to a proton and an electron

The electron is emitted as an alpha particle

The number of neutrons goes down by one and the number of protons goes up by one.

Question 10

What happens in gamma decay?

Answer 10

The atomic number and the mass number stays the same

Question 11

What happens in neutron emission

Answer 11

When some nuclei decay, they produce nuclei with large numbers of neutrons.
These nuclei e,it neutrons