Nuclear Radioactivity

5. a process or series of events where one event causes a subsequent event, leading to a rapid increase in the overall effect
7. the smallest part of a substance that cannot be broken down chemically
9. any material containing unstable atoms that naturally release energy and particles in a process called radioactive decay to become more stable
10. the central and most important part of an object, movement, or group, forming the basis for its activity and growth
11. radioactive waste material, for example from the use or reprocessing of nuclear fuel
12. the process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single, heavier nucleus while releasing a large amount of energy
13. the time it takes for half of a radioactive substance to decay into a different element

1. energy released from a source that travels as waves or high-speed particles through space or materials
2. a process where the nucleus of a heavy atom, like uranium, splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy
3. form of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons compared to other forms of the same element
4. the process where the unstable nucleus of an atom spontaneously transforms into a different, more stable nucleus by emitting ionizing radiation
6. energy released from a source that travels as waves or high-speed particles through space or materials
8. the energy released from an atom's nucleus, either by splitting a nucleus in a process called fission or by combining two nuclei in a process called fusion