Radioactivity and Decay

Tap or click on cards to flip them and reveal the answers. You can use arrow keys as well.

  • Loading folders...
1/15 cards
What is radioactivity?
Click to flip
Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation.
Click to flip
What are alpha particles?
Click to flip
Alpha particles are positively charged particles consisting of two protons and two neutrons, emitted during radioactive decay.
Click to flip
What are beta particles?
Click to flip
Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive nuclei.
Click to flip
What is gamma radiation?
Click to flip
Gamma radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation of high energy and short wavelength, emitted from the nucleus.
Click to flip
How does alpha decay change the nucleus?
Click to flip
In alpha decay, the nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons, decreasing its atomic number by 2 and mass number by 4.
Click to flip
What happens in beta decay?
Click to flip
In beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton, increasing the atomic number by 1, but the mass number remains unchanged.
Click to flip
What is half-life in nuclear decay?
Click to flip
Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay.
Click to flip
How do gamma rays affect the nucleus?
Click to flip
Gamma rays do not change the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus; they result from the reorganization of particles in the nucleus.
Click to flip
Why is radioactivity considered hazardous?
Click to flip
Radioactivity is hazardous due to the ionizing radiation it emits, which can damage living tissue and DNA, potentially causing cancer.
Click to flip
What is a Geiger counter?
Click to flip
A Geiger counter is an instrument used to detect and measure radioactivity by detecting ionizing radiation.
Click to flip
What is nuclear stability?
Click to flip
Nuclear stability refers to the ability of a nucleus to remain unchanged over time, typically influenced by its ratio of protons to neutrons.
Click to flip
How can radioactive decay be used in dating materials?
Click to flip
Radioactive decay can be used in radiometric dating to estimate the age of materials, such as carbon dating for organic material.
Click to flip
What is an isotopic notation?
Click to flip
Isotopic notation represents an element's isotopes with the element symbol, atomic number as subscript, and mass number as superscript.
Click to flip
What is a common application of radioisotopes in medicine?
Click to flip
Radioisotopes are often used in medical imaging and treatment, such as using iodine-131 to treat thyroid conditions.
Click to flip
What are background radiation sources?
Click to flip
Background radiation comes from natural sources like cosmic rays and radon gas, as well as human sources like medical procedures.
Click to flip

Need More Study Materials?

Go back to the chat to generate additional resources.

Create More Resources