Which Best Describes Radioactive Decay?

Radioactive decay is

the spontaneous breakdown of an atomic nucleus

What describes radioactive decay?

Radioactive decay is

the emission of energy in the form of ionizing radiation

. Ionizing radiation can affect the atoms in living things, so it poses a health risk by damaging tissue and DNA in genes..

What is the best description for radioactive decay quizlet?

Radioactive decay, also known as nuclear decay or radioactivity, is

the process by which a nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting radiation

. A material that spontaneously emits such radiation — which includes alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays and conversion electrons — is considered radioactive.

Which statement best describes what happens in a radioactive decay?

Terms in this set (5)

Which statement best describes what happens in radioactive decay?

The nucleus emits particles and/or energy.

Which best describes radioactive decay of a substance?

Radioactive decay occurs when

an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting energy in the form of emitted particles or electromagnetic waves

, called radiation. Isotopes are atoms of the same element (thereby having the same number of protons) which differ in the number of neutrons in their nucleus.

What is radioactive decay in rocks?

Radioactive decay is a spontaneous process in which

an isotope (the parent) loses particles from its nucleus to form an isotope of a new element

(the daughter).

What are the 5 types of radioactive decay?

Alpha, Beta, Gamma Decay and Positron Emission

.

How can you change the radioactive decay rate?

The half-life of radioactive decay can also be

altered by changing the state of the electrons surrounding the nucleus

. In a type of radioactive decay called “electron capture”, the nucleus absorbs one of the atom's electrons and combines it with a proton to make a neutron and a neutrino.

What can block gamma rays?

• Lead aprons and blankets (high density materials or low density materials with increased thickness)
• Lead sheets, foils, plates, slabs, pipes, tubing, bricks, and glass.
• Lead-Polyethylene-Boron Composites.
• Lead sleeves.
• Lead shot.
• Lead walls.
• Lead putties and epoxies.

What is alpha decay in physics?

Alpha decay is

a nuclear decay process where an unstable nucleus changes to another element by shooting out a particle composed of two protons and two neutrons

. This ejected particle is known as an alpha particle and is simply a helium nucleus.

What is the value of decay constant?

The time required for half of the original population of radioactive atoms to decay is called the half-life. The relationship between the half-life, T

_{1 / 2}

, and the decay constant is given by

T

_{1 / 2}

= 0.693/λ

.

What are the different types of radioactive decay?

A material containing unstable nuclei is considered radioactive. Three of the most common types of decay are

alpha decay ( -decay), beta decay ( -decay), and gamma decay ( -decay)

, all of which involve emitting one or more particles.

Who is the father of radioactivity?

What is the process of radioactive decay?

Radioactive decay is the

process in which unstable nuclei of radioactive atoms become stable by emitting charged particles and energy

. … Alpha and beta decay change one element into another. Gamma decay does not. Radioactive decay can damage living things.

How is radioactive decay used?

Radioactive elements can

be used to understand numerical age of geological materials on time scales as long as (and even longer than) the age of the Earth

. In order to determine the age of a geologic material, we must understand the concept of half-life. Half-life is a term that describes time.

How do you determine radioactive decay?

Radioactive decay law:

N = N.e

^{– λt}

The rate of nuclear decay is also measured in terms of half-lives. The half-life is the amount of time it takes for a given isotope to lose half of its radioactivity. If a radioisotope has a half-life of 14 days, half of its atoms will have decayed within 14 days.