Download NUCLEAR CHANGES

NUCLEAR CHANGES
What is
Radioactivity?
What happens when an element
undergoes radioactive decay?
• During radioactive decay an unstable nuclei of
an isotope emits particles and releases energy,
to become a stable isotope.
“NUCLEAR”
To radiate means “to give off”
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Radiography/stableunstableatoms.htm
UNSTABLE NUCLEI
Isotopes of an element are
atoms that have the same number of protons but
different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
• http://www.efda.org/multimedia/downloads/animations/Hi-De-Tri.swf
RADIATION
Nuclear Radiation
• A release of energy and
particles from the nucleus
of an atom
Electromagnetic Radiation
• Energy given off by an atom
due to an acceleration of
the atoms electrons
Materials undergoing radioactive
decay are changing!
• AND – Materials that get bombarded with
nuclear radiation are affects
There are 4 types of nuclear radiation
1.
2.
3.
4.
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma rays
nuetrinos
The alpha particle
1. Positively charged
2. Helium nuclei
3. More massive than other
nuclear radiation types
The beta particle
1. Travels farther through
matter than the heavy
alpha particle
2. Fast moving
electrons/positrons
3. Can pass through paper
4. Will be stopped by 3
mm of aluminum
The gamma ray
• High energy electromagnetic radiation
Nuclear decay
• Nuclear deacy causes changes in the nucleus
of an atom