Week 1: Lecture 2

Question 1

What is Radioactive Decay?

Answer 1

Radioactive Decay is a spontaneous, stochastic process whereby an unstable nucleus transforms into another nucleus.

Question 2

What are the different types of possible ionizing radiations that can be emitted by a radioactive element?

Answer 2

1. Alpha Particles (Helium nuclei)
2. Gamma Rays (High-Energy Photons)
3. Beta Particles (Electrons or Positrons)

Question 3

What is meant by the term “Half-Life”?

Answer 3

The half-life of a radionuclide is the time by which half of the atoms of the radionuclide are expected to have decayed. The number of surviving atoms follows an exponential curve.

Question 4

What is Beta Minus Decay?

Answer 4

Beta Minus Decay is is the only spontaneous process in which a nucleus can cure from a neutron excess, by transforming a neutron into a proton and emitting an electron and an anti-neutrino from inside the nucleus. The mass number stays the same, so it is an isobaric process.

Question 5

What is Beta Plus Decay?

Answer 5

Beta plus decay converts a proton into a neutron, with emission of a positron and a neutrino.