Unit 4 vocab - Braeden Penrose

5. A reaction that involves a change in the nucleus of an atom.
7. The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.
8. Radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus that is accompanied by the emission of a beta particle.
9. A high-speed electron or positron emitted in the decay of a radioactive isotope.
10. Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.
14. The process by which two or more small nuclei fuse to make a bigger nucleus, while also releasing huge amounts of energy.
15. The stable atom that results from the decay of a parent atom; the product of radioactive decay.
16. A cluster of 2 protons and 2 neutrons (helium-4) emitted from a nucleus.
18. Nuclear decay that involves the release of gamma radiation.
19. Ability of radiation to pass through materials.

1. High-energy,shortwave radiation emitted by the nuclei of radioactive atoms.
2. length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.
3. A nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy.
4. The process in which a radioactive isotope tends to break down into a stable isotope of the same element or another element.
6. The process of determining the age of an object using the half-life of one or more radioactive isotopes.
11. A nuclear reaction in which a radioactive atom emits an alpha particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons (helium-4).
12. Determined by the ratio of protons to neutrons in the nucleus for an isotope.
13. An isotope whose nucleus decays spontaneously, giving off particles and/or energy.
17. The atom that undergoes radioactive decay in a nuclear reaction; the original element.