Fission / Fusion
This nuclear process splits a large atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei.
Nuclear Fission
The time required for half of a radioactive sample to decay.
Half-Life
Advantage or Disadvantage: A lot of nuclear energy is produced from only using a little Uranium.
Advantage
Particle with a positive charge.
Alpha
This is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
Atomic Number
This nuclear process combines small nuclei to form a larger nucleus and release energy.
Nuclear Fusion
After one half-life, this fraction of a radioactive sample remains.
1/2 (50%)
Advantage or Disadvantage: Nuclear remains stay radioactive for thousands of years.
Disadvantage
An electron
Beta
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons are called ___.
Isotopes
Nuclear power plants on Earth currently use this process to generate electricity.
Nuclear Fission?
If a substance has a half-life of 5 years, this much remains after 10 years.
1/4 (25%)
Advantage or Disadvantage: Nuclear power does not depend on weather conditions.
Advantage
Helium Nucleus
Alpha
This is the breakdown of a nucleus from unstable to stable.
Radioactive decay
This process produces radioactive waste that must be carefully stored.
Nuclear Fission
A radioactive sample goes through three half-lives. This fraction of the original sample remains.
1/8
What is the main risk of using nuclear power?
Nuclear meltdown/ catastrophe
Can pass through paper and aluminum foil.
Gamma
After _____, a nucleus has 2 fewer protons and 2 fewer neutrons.
Alpha Decay
This is the main reason nuclear fusion is difficult to use for power generation on Earth.
It requires extremely high temperature and pressure.
This is why radioactive waste becomes less dangerous over very long periods of time.
The substance becomes more stable as it undergoes more and more half-lives.
Carbon Dioxide
List the radiation from strongest to weakest.
Gamma, Beta, Alpha
During _____, a neutron turns into a proton, and an electron is given off.
Beta Decay