FreeNotes
A fusion reaction is the process in which two light atomic nuclei combine or “fuse” to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This is the opposite of nuclear fission, where a heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and other stars. … Read more
What is Nuclear Fission? Nuclear fission is the process in which the nucleus of a heavy atom, such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239, splits into two or more smaller nuclei, along with a few neutrons and a large amount of energy. This splitting is caused by the nucleus absorbing a neutron, becoming unstable, and then splitting. … Read more
Radioisotopes are isotopes of elements that are unstable and decay over time, emitting radiation in the process. This radiation can be in the form of alpha, beta, or gamma rays. Because of their ability to emit radiation, radioisotopes have several applications in medicine, industry, and research. Examples of Radioisotopes: Iodine-131: Used in medical treatments and … Read more
The half-life of a substance is the time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive substance to decay. It is a characteristic property of the substance and is used to measure the rate of radioactive decay. Deriving the formula for the number of undecayed atoms: Radioactive decay is exponential: The number of undecayed … Read more
Nuclear transmutation refers to the process in which an atomic nucleus changes from one element or isotope to another due to a nuclear reaction. This can occur either naturally, as a result of radioactive decay, or artificially, through a controlled process like bombarding the nucleus with particles. Nuclear decay is a specific type of nuclear … Read more
Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei release energy in the form of radiation to become more stable. This can occur spontaneously, and the radiation can include particles like alpha particles, beta particles, or electromagnetic radiation (gamma rays). The release of this energy is due to the breakdown of the nucleus of the … Read more
Background radiation refers to the low-level ionizing radiation that is constantly present in the environment. This radiation is a natural part of our surroundings and is made up of various types of radiation from different sources. It’s always present, even in places that are far away from nuclear reactors or other human-made sources of radiation. … Read more
Isotope Definition: Isotopes are different forms of the same element that have the same number of protons (and hence the same atomic number), but different numbers of neutrons. This results in different atomic mass numbers. Although isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties (because they have the same number of electrons), they can … Read more
Atomic Number (Z): The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. It determines the element’s identity and its position in the periodic table. Atomic Mass Number (A): The atomic mass number (also called mass number) is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom’s … Read more
A radioactive element never decays completely, but after about 10 half-lives, the remaining fraction becomes negligible (less than 0.1% of the original amount). Related Questions: What fraction of a radioactive element will be left after 4 half-lives have elapsed? What is common in isotopes of an element and what is different in them? It happens … Read more