Physical Science - Chapter 8

Radioactive decay

the naturally occurring, spontaneous change of an unstable isotope to a more stable one by emitting particles or energy or both.

X ray

used for medical imagery, transportation security, and nondestructive inspection.

Geiger counter

a device designed to measure ionizing radiation.

Dosimeter

a device used to measure exposure to radiation.

Fusion

a nuclear reaction in which small nuclei combine to form a more massive nucleus.

Nuclear change

any change that alters the composition of the nucleus in an atom.

Radiotracer

a radioactive isotope used in nuclear medicine to study how an isotope moves through or collects in a certain way.

Strong force

an attractive force that holds protons and neutrons together in a nucleus.

Half life

the time in which half the atoms of a radioactive sample will probably decay.

Critical mass

the smallest mass of fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction.

Artificial transmutation

a manmade artificial change.

nuclear change

any change that alters the composition of the nucleus in an atom

x-ray

used for medical imagery, transportation security, and nondestructive inspection

radioactive decay

the naturally occurring, spontaneous change of an unstable isotope to a more stable one by emitting particles or energy or both

strong force

an attractive force that holds protons and neutrons together in a nucleus

alpha decay

a nuclear decay that results in the emission of an alpha particle

beta decay

a nuclear decay that results in the emission of a beta particle

gamma decay

a nuclear decay that results in the emission of gamma rays

half-life

the time in which half the atoms of a radioactive sample will probably decay

artificial transmutation

a manmade artificial change

fission

a nuclear reaction in which a large nucleus splits into smaller nuclei

chain reaction

a self-sustaining nuclear fission process in which neutrons produced in one fission reaction trigger more fission events

critical mass

the smallest mass of fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction

fusion

a nuclear reaction in which small nuclei combine to form a more massive nucleus

radiotracer

a radioactive isotope used in nuclear medicine to study how an isotope moves through or collects in a certain way

ionizing radiation

radiation that is energetic enough to knock electrons out of atoms or molecules; most damaging to living organisms

somatic damage

any damage to cells that are not involved in reproduction, thus harming the organism but not any future offspring

genetic damage

any damage done to DNA in cells that can affect growth and reproduction of the cells; can be passed to offspring if it occurs in reproductive cells

Geiger counter

a device designed to measure ionizing radiation

dosimeter

a device used to measure exposure to radiation

alpha decay

a nuclear decay that results in the emission of an alpha particle

beta decay

a nuclear decay that results in the emission of a beta particle

gamma decay

a nuclear decay that results in the emission of gamma rays

fission

a nuclear reaction in which a large nucleus splits into smaller nuclei

chain reaction

a self-sustaining nuclear fission process in which neutrons produced in one fission reaction trigger more fission events

ionizing radiation

radiation that is energetic enough to knock electrons out of atoms or molecules; most damaging to living organisms

somatic damage

any damage to cells that are not involved in reproduction, thus harming the organism but not any future offspring

genetic damage

any damage done to DNA in cells that can affect growth and reproduction of the cells; can be passed to offspring if it occurs in reproductive cells