Radioactive Decay

Question 1

What are the three types of radioactive decay?

Answer 1

1. alpha (α)
2. beta (β): positron emission and electron capture
3. gamma (γ)

Question 2

What is half-life (T_½)?

Answer 2

Amount of time it takes for half of ALL the radioactive nuclei to decay into their daughter nuclei.

Question 3

An alpha particle is similar to what?

Answer 3

Helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).

Question 4

What occurs during alpha decay (α decay)?

Answer 4

An unstable nucleus releases 2 protons and 2 neutrons.

Question 5

What occurs during beta decay (β-decay)?

Answer 5

A neutron is broken down into a proton, which creates a beta particle.

Question 6

What occurs during gamma decay (γ-decay)?

Answer 6

Gamma-rays, high-energy (high-frequency) photons are emitted with NO mass or charge.

Question 7

What are the changes that occur during gamma decay?

Answer 7

1. mass number stays the same
2. atomic number stays the same

Question 8

What changes occur during positron emission?

Answer 8

1. mass number stays the same
2. atomic number decreases by 1

Question 9

What changes occur during beta decay?

Answer 9

1. mass number stays the same
2. atomic number increases by 1

Question 10

What are the two types of beta decay?

Answer 10

1. positron emission
2. electron capture

Question 11

For radioactive decay, what do semi log plots plot?

Answer 11

The logarithm of amount of atoms as a function of time.

Question 12

What is radioactive decay?

Answer 12

Spontaneous decay of atoms to stablize the nucleus.

Question 13

Which type of radioactive decay is the strongest? Weakest?

Answer 13

Gamma decay: strongest

Alpha decay: weakest