Radioactivity Flashcards
What is an isotope?
Atoms of the same element that have a different amount of neutrons.
What is a stable atom?
Describes an atom that does not change spontaneously/instantly. The neutrons and protons are held together with a strong force.
What is an unstable atom?
An atom that doesn’t have a strong force between its protons and neutrons. They may also change instantly.
What are radioisotopes?
An isotope of an atom that is unstable/radioactive.
What is nuclear radiation?
The radiation from the nucleus of an atom. This includes gamma rays or alpha or beta particles.
What is an alpha particle?
Positively charged nuclei atom of helium. Consists of two protons and two neutrons.
What is a beta particle?
A positve or negatively charged particle with the same size and same mass as electrons.
What is a gamma ray?
It is a high-energy, electromagnetic radiation produced during nuclear reactions. They have no mass and travel at the speed of light.
What is a half-life?
Time taken for an atom to decay, that-is, change into atoms of a different element.
What is cosmic radiation?
Naturally occurring radiation from outer space.
