Vocabulary List for Radioactive Decay and Alpha Radiation

What is a Geiger Counter?

• An instrument used to detect and measure ionizing radiation.

• A device for measuring temperature changes.

• A tool for analyzing chemical compositions.

• A machine for generating electrical energy.

Define Radiopharmaceutical.

• A non-radioactive compound used for treatment in medicine.

• A radioactive compound used for diagnosis or treatment in medicine.

• A type of pharmaceutical that enhances radioactivity in the body.

• A radioactive substance used solely for research purposes.

What is Radiation?

• Energy that is emitted in the form of waves or particles, which can be ionizing or non-ionizing.

• A type of sound wave that travels through air.

• A form of energy that is only emitted by living organisms.

• A process of heat transfer through direct contact.

What is Half-Life in the context of radioactivity?

• The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay into a more stable form.

• The total time it takes for all radioactive atoms to decay completely.

• The time it takes for a radioactive atom to become stable without any decay.

• The time required for a radioactive sample to double in size.

Define Alpha Particle.

• A type of radiation consisting of two protons and two neutrons, which is emitted during alpha decay.

• A type of electromagnetic radiation with high energy and short wavelength.

• A particle that consists of one proton and one neutron, found in the nucleus of an atom.

• A type of radiation that consists of electrons emitted from a radioactive substance.

What is the Nucleus of an atom?

• The outer shell of an atom that contains electrons.

• The central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons, and responsible for the majority of the atom's mass.

• A type of particle that orbits around the nucleus.

• The energy level of an atom that determines its reactivity.

What is a Decay Chain?

• A process where a stable isotope transforms into a radioactive isotope.

• A series of decays that occur when a radioactive isotope transforms into another radioactive isotope and continues until a stable isotope is formed.

• A method used to measure the age of fossils.

• A type of nuclear reaction that releases energy without any transformation of isotopes.

What is Emission in the context of radioactivity?

• The process of absorbing energy from a radioactive substance.

• The act of releasing energy or particles from a radioactive substance.

• The method of measuring radiation levels in an environment.

• The technique used to shield against radioactive materials.

What does Transmutation mean?

• The conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another, often occurring in radioactive decay processes.

• A process of changing the state of matter from solid to liquid.

• The ability of an element to conduct electricity.

• A method of combining two different elements to create a new compound.

What does Fission refer to?

• The process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.

• The process of splitting a heavy atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei, accompanied by the release of energy.

• The process of converting matter into energy without any nuclear reaction.

• The process of capturing neutrons to stabilize an atomic nucleus.