Nuclear Energy Vocabulary

Front

What is a photon?

Back

A packet (quantum) of energy with no mass and no electrical charge, but it has momentum.

Front

What is nuclear fission?

Back

The process by which a nucleus splits into two or more fragments and releases neutrons and energy.

Front

What is an alpha particle?

Back

A positively charged particle that consists of two protons and two neutrons and is emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay.

Front

What is nuclear radiation?

Back

The particles that are released from the nucleus during radioactive decay.

Front

What is background radiation?

Back

The nuclear radiation that arises naturally from cosmic rays and from radioactive isotopes in the soil and air.

Front

What is the role of neutrons in nuclear fission?

Back

Neutrons initiate the fission process by colliding with the nucleus of an atom, causing it to split.

Front

What is the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?

Back

Nuclear fission is the splitting of a nucleus into smaller parts, while nuclear fusion is the combining of two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.

Front

What is a radioactive isotope?

Back

An isotope of an element that is unstable and decays over time, emitting radiation.

Front

What is the significance of half-life in radioactive decay?

Back

Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay, indicating the rate of decay.

Front

What are the three main types of nuclear radiation?

Back

Alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.