Radiation Crossword

2. A process in which an unstable nucleus emits gamma radiation (high-energy photons) without changing its atomic number or mass number.
5. The process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a significant amount of energy, as seen in stars.
6. A technique used to determine the age of materials, such as rocks or fossils, by measuring the amount of radioactive isotopes present and their decay rates.
9. The time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay, a key concept in understanding radioactive decay and calculations related to it.

1. The process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation, resulting in the transformation of an element into another.
3. The central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons, which plays a crucial role in nuclear reactions and radioactivity.
4. The process of splitting a large atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei, accompanied by the release of energy, commonly used in nuclear reactors.
7. A type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (two protons and two neutrons), resulting in a new element with a lower atomic number.
8. A form of radioactive decay in which a neutron is transformed into a proton, emitting a beta particle (electron or positron) and increasing the atomic number of the element.