Vocabulary Flashcards
Binding energy per nucleon
The binding energy of the nucleus divided by the number of nucleons it contains.
Band of stability
A stable nuclei cluster over a range of neutron-proton ratios.
Magic numbers
The numbers of nucleons that represent completed nuclear energy levels- 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126.
Mass defect
The difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of its protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Nuclear binding energy
The energy released when a nucleus is formed from nucleons.
Nuclear reaction
A device that uses controlled-fission chain reactions to produce energy or radioactive nuclides.
Nuclear Shell model
Nucleons exist in different energy levels, or shells, in the nucleus.
Nucleons
Protons and neutrons
Nuclide
a distinct kind of atom or nucleus characterized by a specific number of protons and neutrons.
Transmutation
the action of changing or the state of being changed into another form.
Alpha particle
a helium nucleus emitted by some radioactive substances, originally regarded as a ray.
Artificial transmutation
An artificially induced nuclear reaction caused by the bombardment of a nucleus with subatomic particiles or small nucei.
Beta particle
a fast-moving electron emitted by radioactive decay of substances. (The emission of beta particles was originally regarded as a ray.).
Daughter nuclide
formed by the disintegration of a radionuclide, either directly or as a result of successive transformation in a radioactive series.
Decay series
ecay series is a series of decay in which radioactive element is decomposed in different elements until it produces one stable atom
Electron capture
Electron capture is a process in which a proton-rich nuclide absorbs an inner atomic electron, thereby changing a nuclear proton to a neutron and simultaneously causing the emission of an electron neutrin
Gamma ray
penetrating electromagnetic radiation of a kind arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei.
Half life
The time required for half the nuclei in a sample of a specific isotopic species to undergo radioactive decay.
Nuclear radiation
nuclear radiation. Physics. radiation in the form of elementary particles emitted by an atomic nucleus, as alpha rays or gamma rays, produced by decay of radioactive substances or by nuclear fission.
Parent nuclide
A parent nuclide is a nuclide that decays into a specific daughter nuclide during radioactive decay.
Positron
a subatomic particle with the same mass as an electron and a numerically equal but positive charge.
Radioactive decay
Radioactive decay, also known as nuclear decay or radioactivity, is the process by which a nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing radiation.
Radioactive nuclides
Radioactive atoms characterized by what is in their nucleus—the number of protons, number of neutrons, and energy content.
Transuranium elements
The transuranium elements are the chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than 92. All of these elements are unstable and decay radioactively into other elements.
Chemical reaction
a chemical reaction or other process in which the products themselves promote or spread the reaction, which under certain conditions may accelerate dramatically.
Control rod
a rod of a neutron-absorbing substance used to vary the output power of a nuclear reactor.
Critical mass
A critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Wikipedia
Moderator
an arbitrator or mediator.
Nuclear fission
a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, with the release of energy.
Nuclear fusion
a nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with the release of energy.
Nuclear power
electric or motive power generated by a nuclear reactor.
Nuclear rector
an apparatus or structure in which fissile material can be made to undergo a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear reaction with the consequent release of energy.
Shielding
A barrier made of inner-shell electrons which serves to decrease the pull of the nucleus on the outer electrons.
