Nuclear Physics Merged Flash Cards (Feb 22 2:48pm)

What occurs in the nucleus during alpha decay?

Two protons and two neutrons are removed.

What happens in the nucleus during beta decay?

One proton is lost.

What occurs in the nucleus during gamma decay?

The element stays the same but loses energy.

What is the name and nuclear symbol of the element with 9 protons and 10 neutrons?

Fluorine, ¹⁹ ₉F is the element with atomic number 9, and its nuclear symbol indicates it has a mass number of 19_.

What is the name and nuclear symbol of the element with 8 protons and 10 neutrons?

Oxygen, ¹⁸O₈.

What is the name and nuclear symbol of the element with 26 protons and 30 neutrons?

Iron, ⁵⁶Fe₂₆.

What is the composition of alpha particles?

Alpha particles are composed of two protons and two neutrons.

What is the composition of beta particles?

Beta particles are essentially high-energy electrons produced during radioactive decay.

How does gamma radiation differ from alpha and beta radiation?

Gamma rays are pure energy, whereas alpha and beta particles have both energy and mass.

What did Henri Becquerel discover about radiation emitted from uranium salts?

He discovered that uranium salts emitted rays that darkened photographic plates.

Distinguish between the terms “mass number” and “ atomic number".'“

Mass Number= Proton Amount + Neutron Amount. Atomic Number= Number of Protons

How do various isotopes of an element differ?

They differ with the amount of neutrons within each isotope.

What two rules relate to mass numbers and atomic numbers in a nuclear equation?

1. The sum of the mass numbers does not change.

2. The sum of the charges in the nucleus does not change.

Is this Alpha, Beta or Gamma decay?

Beta decay

Is this Alpha, Beta or Gamma decay?

Beta decay

What is the missing isotope?

239/92 U

What is the missing isotope?

140/58 Ce

Is this Alpha, Beta or Gamma decay?

Alpha Decay

How many neutrons are in Potassium-39?

20

How many neutrons are in Potassium-40?

21

How many neutrons are in Potassium-41?

22

How many protons are in Potassium-39?

19

How many protons are in Potassium-40?

19

How many protons are in Potassium-41?

19

Why was the discovery that uranium salts emitted radiation a surprise to scientists?

The discovery that uranium salts emitted radiation was a surprise because scientists didn't know that substances could emit energy without any external source, like heat or light. (happend naturally)

What did Marie Curie call the process by which some materials give off radiation such as X rays?

Radioactivity

What is it meant by the term "isotope?"

Isotopes are different atoms of a particular element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.They have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.

What do all isotopes of the same element have in common?

They have the same symbol

How do isotopes of the same element differ?

They differ by mass number and different # of neutrons in the nucleus.

What information about the nucleus of an isotope is given by it's mass number?

The mass number of an isotope tells you the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. It helps distinguish between different isotopes of the same element.

What is the length of one half-life of Carbon-14?

5730 years

How many half-lives have passed when there is ¼ of the original amount of carbon-14?

Two half-lives have passed, as each half-life reduces the amount by half, resulting in one quarter of the original amount.

Estimate the percentage of carbon-14 after

A) 5000 years

55%

B) 10,000 years

30%

C) 20, 000 years

~8%

Estimate the time elapsed when the amount of carbon-14 remaining is:

a) 70%

a) ~3000 years

b) 40%

~7500 years

c) 5%

~23,000