woc exam 2 review
nucleons - ANSWERSwhat are protons and neutrons
radioactivity - ANSWERSthe nucleus emits a particle
corrects an imbalance caused by the wrong ratio of neutrons to protons, or by too many
nucleons
beta decay - ANSWERSemits beta particle. beta particle has charge and mass identical to an
electron
alpha decay - ANSWERSemits alpha particle
alpha particle has the same amount of neutrons and protons as a helium nucleus (2 protons, 2
neutrons)
gamma particles - ANSWERShigh energy photon
has no mass, carries away energy
half life - ANSWERStime required for half the mass of a radioactive element to decay and turn
into something else
natural radioactive decay series - ANSWERSuranium-238, with half life 4.5 billion years, slowly
decays into other elements
, artificial transmutation - ANSWERSscientists bombard a (stable) element with high energy
particles and new products are formed
scientists shoot a particle at an atom and make a new atom
transuranium - ANSWERSelements with atomic number greater than 92, they are not found in
nature but are man-made
fission - ANSWERSthe nucleus of an atom such as U-235, splits into smaller, lighter pieces
nuclear explosion - ANSWERSan explosion that occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy
from a high-speed nuclear reaction
critical mass - ANSWERSa sample of fissionable material of sufficient size to sustain a chain
reaction on its own
fissionable material - ANSWERS235-U and 239-Pu
purified uranium - ANSWERSmore 235-U than natural uranium
radioactive waste - ANSWERSformed from fission, contains radioactive material
coolant - ANSWERScarries heat away from the nuclear rods in a nuclear power plant
moderator - ANSWERSslows down neutrons
control rods - ANSWERSused to slow down the reaction in a nuclear power plant
nucleons - ANSWERSwhat are protons and neutrons
radioactivity - ANSWERSthe nucleus emits a particle
corrects an imbalance caused by the wrong ratio of neutrons to protons, or by too many
nucleons
beta decay - ANSWERSemits beta particle. beta particle has charge and mass identical to an
electron
alpha decay - ANSWERSemits alpha particle
alpha particle has the same amount of neutrons and protons as a helium nucleus (2 protons, 2
neutrons)
gamma particles - ANSWERShigh energy photon
has no mass, carries away energy
half life - ANSWERStime required for half the mass of a radioactive element to decay and turn
into something else
natural radioactive decay series - ANSWERSuranium-238, with half life 4.5 billion years, slowly
decays into other elements
, artificial transmutation - ANSWERSscientists bombard a (stable) element with high energy
particles and new products are formed
scientists shoot a particle at an atom and make a new atom
transuranium - ANSWERSelements with atomic number greater than 92, they are not found in
nature but are man-made
fission - ANSWERSthe nucleus of an atom such as U-235, splits into smaller, lighter pieces
nuclear explosion - ANSWERSan explosion that occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy
from a high-speed nuclear reaction
critical mass - ANSWERSa sample of fissionable material of sufficient size to sustain a chain
reaction on its own
fissionable material - ANSWERS235-U and 239-Pu
purified uranium - ANSWERSmore 235-U than natural uranium
radioactive waste - ANSWERSformed from fission, contains radioactive material
coolant - ANSWERScarries heat away from the nuclear rods in a nuclear power plant
moderator - ANSWERSslows down neutrons
control rods - ANSWERSused to slow down the reaction in a nuclear power plant
