nucleon
proton/neutron
nuclide
atom that is identified by the # of protons and neurton in its nucleus
mass defect
difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of its protons, neutrons and electrons
nuclear binding energy
energy released when a nucleus is formed from nucleons
nuclear shell model
nucleons exist in different energy levels or shells in the nucleus
magic numbers
numbers (2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126) that represent the # of particles in an extra stable atomic nucleus that has completed shells of protons and neutrons
nuclear reaction
reaction that changes the nucleus of an atom
transmutation
change in identity of a nucleus as a result of a change in the # of its protons
radioactive decay
spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus into a slightly lighter nucleus as a result of a change in the # of its protons
nuclear radiation
particles or electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay
alpha particle
2 protons and 2 neutrons bound together and is emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay
beta particle
electron emitted from the nucleus during some kind of radioactive decay
positron
particle that has the same mass as an electron but has a positive charge and is emitted from the nucleus during some kinds of radioactive decay
electron capture
inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus of its own atom
gamma ray
high-energy electromagnetic waves emitted from a nucleus as it changes from an excited state to a ground energy state
half-life
t12 time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive nuclide to decay
decay series
series of radioactive nuclides produced by successive radioactive decay until a stable nuclide is reached
parent nuclide
heaviest nuclide of each decay series
daughter nuclide
the nuclides produced by the decay of parent nuclides
artificial transmutation
bombardment of nuclei with charged and uncharged particles
transuranium element
elements with more than 92 protons in their nuclei
roentgen
(R) unit used to measure nuclear radiation exposure, it is equal to the amount of gamma ray & x ray radiation that produces 2 x10^9 ion pairs when it passes through 1 cm^3 of dry air
rem
unit used to measure the dose of any type of ionizing radiation that factors in the effect that radiation has on human tissue
film badge
use exposure of film to measure the approximate radiation exposure of people working with radiation
Geiger Muller count
instruments that detect radiation by counting electric pulses carried by gas ionized radiation
radioactive dating
process by which the approximate age of an object is determined based on the amount of certail radioactive nuclides present detectors
nuclear waste
waste that contains isotopes
nuclear fission
very heavy nucleus that splits into more stable nuclei of intermediatemass
chain reaction
reaction in which the material that starts the reaction is also one of the products and can start another reaction
critical mass
minimum amount of nuclide that provides the number of neutrons needed to sustain a chain reaction
nuclear reactor
device that uses controlled nuclear reactions to produce energy or nuclides
nuclear power plant
convert that heat produced by nuclear fission into electrical energy
shielding
radiation absorbing material that is used to decrease the emission of radiation esp. gamma rays from nuclear reactors
control rod
neutron absorbing rod that helps control the reaction by limiting the number of free neutrons
moderator
used to slow down the fast neutrons produced by fission
nuclear fusion
low mass nuclei combine to form a heavier more stable nucleus
radioactive nuclide
unstable nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay
scintillation counter
instruments that convert scintillating light to an electric signal for detecting radiation
radioactive tracer
radioactive atoms that are incorporated into substances so that movement of the substances can be followed by radiation detectors