Topic 35 Flashcards
What is radioactivity?
Decay of unstable nucleus and associated radiation
What is alpha radiation?
Positively charged particles (He2+)
What is beta radiation
Eleectrons released by an isotop
What are gamma rays?
Neutral electromagnetic radiation
What is an isotope?
Nucelar element with the same atomic number but different neutron numbers
Equation to calculate the radius of an atom
R = 1.4 * A1/3 * 10-15m
A1/3 = Mass number
Describe binding energy
Highest in intermediate sized nucleu, meaning fusion or fission of 2 big atoms release kinetic energy.
Equal to 1 MeV/Nucleon
Calculate binding energy per nucleon
ΔE/A
Draw a diagram explaining the A dependence of binding energy per nucleon
How do power plants utilise radioactivity?
Energy release through fusion