The EM Spectrum
True or False: Microwaves have a higher frequency than X-Rays.
False.
What is a half-life?
The specific amount of time that it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay.
What color does copper emit?
Blue
What is the main process by which the sun produces this energy?
Nuclear Fusion
What is an atom made of?
Subatomic particles: Protons, neutrons, and electrons
How would the energy carried by an electromagnetic wave change if the wavelength were shortened?
Energy would increase.
What is always released during alpha decay?
Helium
What is the photoelectric effect?
When electromagnetic radiation strikes a metal and e- are emitted.
Nuclear power plants utilize this process to generate energy.
Nuclear Fission
What is a valence electron?
Electrons in the outermost energy shell.
Along the electromagnetic spectrum, frequency _________ from gamma rays to radio waves.
Decreases
Write the nuclear equation for technetium-100 undergoing alpha decay.
See the board
What happens when an electron drops from an excited state back to its ground state?
It releases energy in the form of light (or a photon).
What type of energy is released during nuclear fission?
Thermal energy
How many valence electrons does an oxygen atom have?
6
List the EM spectrum in order:
Radio waves
microwaves
infrared waves
visible light
ultraviolet rays
X-rays
gamma rays
Write the nuclear equation for barium-140 undergoing beta decay.
Look at the board
Which type of radiation can travel through the most objects?
Gamma Rays
Name the nuclear reaction: A neutron hits an atom, breaking the atom into segments; energy is released.
nuclear fission
What do the rows (periods) on the periodic table represent?
The number of electron shells in an atom
What is the relationship between energy, frequency, and wavelength?
The greater the energy of an electromagnetic wave, the higher its frequency and the shorter its wavelength.
The half-life of the Plutonium-241 isotope is 14.4 years. How long would it take for three-fourths of a sample of Plutonium-241 to change into other elements?
~ 28.8 years
What happens when an electron goes into an excited state?
It absorbs energy and moves to a higher energy level farther from the nucleus.
What is the difference between nuclear fission and fusion?
Fission splits a large atom into smaller ones, releasing energy.
Fusion joins two small atoms together to make a larger one, also releasing energy.
What is the speed of light?
speed of light, c = 3.0 x 108 m/s