Introduction to Radioactivity

What is radioactivity?

• The conversion of energy into mass

• The process of a stable nucleus gaining energy

• The emission of energy from an unstable nucleus

• The absorption of radiation by a stable nucleus

Who first discovered radioactivity?

• Isaac Newton

• Henri Becquerel

• Albert Einstein

• Marie Curie

What material did Becquerel use to discover radioactivity?

• Copper

• Uranium

• Lead

• Gold

Which of the following elements did Marie and Pierre Curie discover?

• Gold and Silver

• Carbon and Oxygen

• Radium and Polonium

• Uranium and Thorium

What prestigious award did Marie Curie win for her work in radioactivity?

• Nobel Prize

• Turing Award

• Fields Medal

• Pulitzer Prize

Which type of radiation is not deflected by a magnetic field?

• Gamma rays

• Beta particles

• Alpha particles

• Neutrons

What is the charge of beta particles?

• Variable

• Neutral

• Negative

• Positive

Which type of radiation has the highest penetrating power?

• Neutrons

• Alpha particles

• Gamma rays

• Beta particles

What can stop alpha particles?

• A glass window

• A sheet of aluminum

• A block of lead

• A sheet of paper

What is a decay chain?

• A process of energy absorption

• A chain of nuclear fusions

• A sequence of radioactive decays

• A series of chemical reactions