Unit 3 Vocabulary

Front

Radioactivity

Back

the release of nuclear particles and radiation

Front

Radiation

Back

the release of energy as waves or particles

Front

(Nuclear) Fusion

Back

the combination of light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus while releasing a large amount of energy

Front

(Nuclear) Fission

Back

the breaking down of a heavy nucleus into smaller, more stable nuclei while releasing a large amount of energy

Front

Alpha Decay (α-decay)

Back

the breaking down of a nucleus, releasing an alpha particle

Front

Alpha Particle (α-particle)

Back

a Helium nucleus

Front

Beta Decay (β-decay)

Back

the breaking down of a nucleus, releasing a beta particle

Front

Beta Particle (β-particle)

Back

an electron

Front

Gamma Decay (γ-decay)

Back

the breaking down of a nucleus, releasing photons of light called gamma rays

Front

Half-life (t_1/2)

Back

the time required for half of a substance to decay