TED-Ed: Radioactivity: Expect the unexpected - Steve Weatherell

The video explains radioactivity, where unstable nuclei change spontaneously, emitting particles like beta and alpha. Beta particles result from neutron to proton transformation, while alpha particles are helium nuclei. Radioactivity has applications in smoke detectors and medicine, but poses health risks. Gamma radiation, an electromagnetic wave, is used in food preservation and cancer treatment. Ionization from radiation can damage DNA, highlighting the dual nature of radioactivity as both useful and dangerous.

What is the process called when the nucleus of a chemical element changes from one element to another?

How does a neutron in the nucleus change into a proton, and what particle is emitted during this process?

Explain the difference between alpha particles and beta particles in terms of their mass and speed.

What are the potential health consequences of inhaling or ingesting a radioactive nucleus?

In what ways is radioactivity both useful and dangerous in our daily lives?