FPC - Chapter 10
Radioactivity - ANS-The process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged
particles and energy.
Radioisotope - ANS-Any atom containing an unstable nucleus.
Nuclear Radiation - ANS-Charged particles and energy that are emitted from the
nucleus of radioisotopes.
Alpha Particle - ANS-A positively charged particle made up of two protons and two
neutrons.
Beta Particle - ANS-An electron emitted by an unstable nucleus.
Gamma ray - ANS-Is a penetrating ray of energy emitted by an unstable nucleus.
Background Radiation - ANS-Is radiation that occurs naturally in the environment.
Half-Life - ANS-Is the time required for one half of a sample of a radioisotope to decay.
Transmutation - ANS-Is the conversion of atoms of one element to atoms of another.
Transuranium Elements - ANS-Any element with an atomic number greater then 92
Quark - ANS-Is a subatomic particle theorized to be among the basic units of matter.
Strong Nuclear Force - ANS-Is the attractive force that binds protons and neutrons
together in the nucleus.
Fission - ANS-Is the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two smaller particles.
Chain Reaction - ANS-Neutrons released during the splitting of an initial nucleus to
trigger a series of nuclear fissions.
Critical Mass - ANS-Is the smallest possible mass of fissionable material that can
sustain a chain reaction.
Radioactivity - ANS-The process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged
particles and energy.
Radioisotope - ANS-Any atom containing an unstable nucleus.
Nuclear Radiation - ANS-Charged particles and energy that are emitted from the
nucleus of radioisotopes.
Alpha Particle - ANS-A positively charged particle made up of two protons and two
neutrons.
Beta Particle - ANS-An electron emitted by an unstable nucleus.
Gamma ray - ANS-Is a penetrating ray of energy emitted by an unstable nucleus.
Background Radiation - ANS-Is radiation that occurs naturally in the environment.
Half-Life - ANS-Is the time required for one half of a sample of a radioisotope to decay.
Transmutation - ANS-Is the conversion of atoms of one element to atoms of another.
Transuranium Elements - ANS-Any element with an atomic number greater then 92
Quark - ANS-Is a subatomic particle theorized to be among the basic units of matter.
Strong Nuclear Force - ANS-Is the attractive force that binds protons and neutrons
together in the nucleus.
Fission - ANS-Is the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two smaller particles.
Chain Reaction - ANS-Neutrons released during the splitting of an initial nucleus to
trigger a series of nuclear fissions.
Critical Mass - ANS-Is the smallest possible mass of fissionable material that can
sustain a chain reaction.