Nuclear Physics Definitions Flashcards
Radioactive materials
materials which emit nuclear radiation
Radioactive decay
a change in an unstable nucleus that can result in the emission of α-particles or β-particles and/or γ-radiation
Background radiation
the background radiation that is always present in the environment
Half-life
the time taken for half the nuclei of an isotope to decay
Isotope
different atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons
Proton number(atomic number)
the number of protons in an atom
Nucleon number(mass number)
The total number of neutrons and protons in an atom
Nuclear fusion
the process by which two light nuclei combine together(releasing vast amounts of energy in the process)
Nuclear fission
The process by which an unstable, heavy nucleus splits into two lighter nuclei
