Glossary
Alpha Decay (α)
A type of radioactive decay where an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle, causing its atomic number to decrease by 2 and its mass number by 4.
Example:
Uranium-238 undergoes Alpha Decay (α) to transform into Thorium-234, releasing a helium nucleus.
Half-life
The specific time period required for half of the radioactive atoms in a given sample to undergo radioactive decay.
Example:
If a sample of a substance has a half-life of 10 days, after 20 days, only one-quarter of the original radioactive material will remain.
Nuclear fission
A nuclear reaction where a heavy atomic nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei, typically releasing a significant amount of energy.
Example:
The energy generated in nuclear power plants is a result of controlled nuclear fission of uranium atoms.
Nuclear fusion
A nuclear reaction in which two or more light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a tremendous amount of energy.
Example:
The immense energy output of the Sun is powered by nuclear fusion, where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium.
Radioactive decay
The spontaneous process by which an unstable atomic nucleus transforms into a more stable one by emitting particles and/or energy.
Example:
Carbon-14 undergoes radioactive decay to become Nitrogen-14, a process used for carbon dating ancient artifacts.
alpha particle
A particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons, identical to a helium-4 nucleus, emitted during alpha decay.
Example:
When a heavy nucleus undergoes alpha decay, it ejects an alpha particle, reducing its mass and atomic number.
charge
A fundamental property of matter that dictates its interaction with electromagnetic fields; in nuclear reactions, the total *charge* of the system must remain constant.
Example:
During beta decay, a neutron transforms into a proton and an electron, ensuring that the total charge before and after the decay remains balanced.
daughter
The new nuclide that is formed as a result of the radioactive decay of a parent nucleus.
Example:
When Carbon-14 decays, Nitrogen-14 is the stable daughter nuclide produced.
nucleon number
The total count of protons and neutrons within an atomic nucleus, which must be conserved in all nuclear reactions.
Example:
When Uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay, its nucleon number decreases by 4, reflecting the emission of an alpha particle.
parent
The original, unstable nuclide that undergoes radioactive decay to form a new, often more stable, nuclide.
Example:
In the decay chain of Uranium-238, Uranium-238 is the parent nuclide that eventually decays into Lead-206.
radioactive
Describes isotopes with unstable nuclei that spontaneously decay, emitting particles and/or energy to achieve a more stable state.
Example:
Iodine-131 is a radioactive isotope used in medical imaging due to its predictable decay properties.