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Radioactivity
The spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus of an unstable atom.
Isotope
Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Alpha particle
A positively charged particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons, emitted during the decay of certain unstable nuclei.
Beta particle
An electron (β-) or positron (β+) emitted from an unstable nucleus during radioactive decay.
Gamma ray
Electromagnetic radiation of very high frequency and energy emitted from the nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay.
Half-life
The time it takes for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay into a stable element.
Decay series
A sequence of radioactive decays where each decay product undergoes further decay until a stable isotope is reached.
Radioactive decay
The process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation.
Nuclear fission
The splitting of a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei, accompanied by the release of a large amount of energy.
Nuclear fusion
The process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy.
Radiation dose
The amount of energy absorbed from ionizing radiation by a material or tissue.
Ionizing radiation
Radiation with enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions.
Background radiation
The low-level radiation that is always present in the environment from natural and man-made sources.
Geiger counter
A device used to detect and measure ionizing radiation by counting the number of electric pulses produced when radiation interacts with a gas-filled tube.
Nuclear reactor
A facility that initiates, controls, and maintains nuclear reactions for the generation of electricity or production of isotopes.
Radioisotope
An unstable isotope of an element that undergoes radioactive decay.
Radiometric dating
A method used to determine the age of rocks, fossils, and archaeological artifacts based on the decay of radioactive isotopes.
Neutron activation analysis
A technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by irradiating it with neutrons and analyzing the resulting radioactive isotopes.
Radiation therapy
The use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer and other medical conditions.
Nuclear medicine
A branch of medicine that uses radioactive isotopes for diagnosis, imaging, and treatment of diseases.
Radionuclide
A radioactive isotope of an element.
Decay constant
The probability per unit time that a radioactive nucleus will decay.
Transmutation
The conversion of one chemical element into another through nuclear reactions.
Radiopharmaceutical
A radioactive compound used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Shielding
The use of materials to protect against the harmful effects of radiation by absorbing or scattering it.
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