Physics Vocab Coach Mac

neutron

subatomic particle found in the nucleus with no charge

gamma decay

radioactive decay in which energy is released by emission of photons

positron

positively charged subatomic particle with the same mass of an electron

nucleon

A proton or a neutron

nuclear reactor

A structure that controls a nuclear reaction to obtain energy

mass-energy equivalence

An equation that expresses that the mass of an object is a measure of its energy content

beta decay

radioactive decay in which an electron or positron is emitted or absorbed

proton

subatomic particle found in the nucleus with positive charge

ionizing radiation

radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from the orbit of an atom

half-life

the time taken for a radioactive isotope to decay to half its original mass

excited state

absorbed energy cause an electron to move to a higher orbit

isotopes

atoms of the same element that have different atomic masses

Nuclear Stability

this is determined by the binding energy per nucleon

nuclear fusion

a reaction in which light nuclei form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy

binding energy

the energy that holds the nucleus together

nuclear fission

a reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits, releasing energy

electron

subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus with a negative charge

alpha decay

radioactive decay in which a helium nucleus is ejected from the nucleus of an atom

carbon dating

a process used to measure the age of dead organisms

mass defect

the difference between the calculated mass of an isotope and its actual mass

radioisotope

an isotope that is radioactive

ground state

the lowest energy state of an atom

photon

energy in the form of light