Radioactive Decay

This term refers to the amount of time it takes for half of a certain substance to undergo radioactive decay.

• alpha life

• beta life

• radioactivity time

• half-life

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

In alpha decay, a ________ particle breaks off of an atom.

• hydrogen

• helium

• carbon

• lithium

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

How many total protons and neutrons does an alpha particle (i.e. a helium atom) have?

• 1

• 2

• 4

• 8

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

True or false: alpha decay is caused by the weak force

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which force is responsible for beta decay?

• Electromagnetism

• Weak force

• Strong force

• Gravity

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

In beta decay, a(n) ___________ is emitted.

• gamma ray

• electron

• neutron

• helium particle

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What happens to an atom's atomic number when it undergoes alpha decay?

• decreases by 1

• decreases by 2

• increases by 1

• increases by 2

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What happens to an atom's mass when it undergoes alpha decay?

• increases by 2

• decreases by 2

• increases by 4

• decreases by 4

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What happens to an atom's atomic number when it undergoes beta decay?

• it always increases by 1

• it always decreases by 1

• depends: it could either increase by 1 or decrease by 1

• it always decreases by 2

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which of the following is NOT true of beta decay?

• it can mean a proton turns into a neutron

• it can mean a neutron turns into a proton

• it can mean a proton turns into an electron

• sometimes an electron is emitted

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8