NUCLEAR CHANGES

What is Radioactivity?

What happens when an element undergoes radioactive decay?

• During radioactive decay an unstable nuclei of an isotope emits particles and releases energy, to become a stable isotope.

To radiate means “to give off”

“NUCLEAR”

http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Radiography/stableunstableatoms.htm

UNSTABLE NUCLEI

Isotopes of an element are atoms that have the same number of protons but

different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei

• http://www.efda.org/multimedia/downloads/animations/Hi-De-Tri.swf

RADIATION

Nuclear Radiation• A release of energy and

particles from the nucleus of an atom

Electromagnetic Radiation• Energy given off by an atom

due to an acceleration of the atoms electrons

Materials undergoing radioactive decay are changing!

• AND – Materials that get bombarded with nuclear radiation are affects

There are 4 types of nuclear radiation

1. Alpha particles2. Beta particles3. Gamma rays4. nuetrinos

The alpha particle1. Positively charged2. Helium nuclei3. More massive than other

nuclear radiation types

The beta particle1. Travels farther through

matter than the heavy alpha particle

2. Fast moving electrons/positrons

3. Can pass through paper4. Will be stopped by 3

mm of aluminum

The gamma ray

• High energy electromagnetic radiation

Nuclear decay

• Nuclear deacy causes changes in the nucleus of an atom