Nuclear Energy Vocabulary

Front

What is the process by which a nucleus splits into two or more fragments, releasing neutrons and energy?

Back

Fission

Front

What is the high-energy photon emitted by a nucleus during fission and radioactive decay?

Back

Gamma ray

Front

What is the disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus into one or more different nuclides called?

Back

Radioactive decay

Front

What type of nuclear radiation arises naturally from cosmic rays and from radioactive isotopes in the soil and air?

Back

Background radiation

Front

What is a positively charged particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons, emitted from a nucleus during radioactive decay?

Back

Alpha particle

Front

What is the term for the energy released during nuclear fission?

Back

Nuclear energy

Front

What is the term for the process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus?

Back

Fusion

Front

What is the unit of measurement for radioactivity, defined as one disintegration per second?

Back

Becquerel (Bq)

Front

What is the term for the minimum amount of fissile material needed to maintain a nuclear chain reaction?

Back

Critical mass

Front

What type of radiation consists of high-energy electrons or positrons?

Back

Beta radiation