Nuclear Radiation

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Nuclear Radiation

• By Jessica, Lielen, Nick, Rachael, Sofia, and
  Brock

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Definition

• Radiation is the process by which an unstable
  parent nucleus becomes more stable by decay into
  a daughter nucleus by emitting particles and/or
  energy.

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Types of Radiation

• There are three types of nuclear radiation alpha
  decay, beta decay, and gamma decay.

These radiations were discovered by Becquerel in
1896.  Since the nature of these radiations was
not understood at the time, the three types of
radiations were simply called alpha, beta and
gamma radiation.  Even though we now understand
what these radiations or types of radioactive
decay are, we still often use these historical
terms.
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Alpha Decay

• Alpha decay is when a radioactive isotope spits
  out an alpha particle. An alpha particle is two
  protons and two electrons that form a small
  nucleus.
• Alpha decay can essentially be thought of as
  nuclear fission where the parent nucleus splits
  into two daughter nuclei.

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Alpha Decay

• Since an atom loses two protons during alpha
  decay, it changes from one element to another.
  For example, after undergoing alpha decay, an
  atom of uranium (with 92 protons) becomes an atom
  of thorium (with 90 protons).

 
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Beta Decay

• Beta decay is one process that unstable atoms can
  use to become more stable by spitting out the
  negatively charged part of itself to become a
  proton. There are two types of beta decay,
  beta-minus and beta-plus.

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Beta-Minus Decay

• During beta-minus decay, the neutron turns into a
  proton, an electron, and an antineutrino. The
  electron and antineutrino exit the nucleus, which
  now consists of one more proton than before. The
  atom changes from one element to another with the
  gain of the proton.

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Beta-Plus Decay

• Beta-plus decay is the opposite. The proton turns
  into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino, and
  the latter two exit the nucleus. The newly
  formed, one proton less atom changes from one
  element to another.
• It is important to note that the total number of
  particles (protons and neutrons) remain the same.

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Gamma Decay

• A gamma particle is a photon. A photon is an
  amount of electromagnetic energy which is
  considered to be a distinct particle that has a
  mass of zero, no charge, and a long lifespan.
• A nucleus changes from a higher energy state to a
  lower energy state through production of protons.
  Through the process of Gamma Decay, the number
  of protons and neutrons DO NOT change.

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Differences

• The difference between the three decays is the
  particle emitted by the nucleus during the decay
  process

-Alpha decay alpha particle, which is a helium
nucleus
-Beta decay beta particle, which is usually an
electron, sometimes a positron
-Gamma decay nucleus changes from higher energy
state to lower energy state
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Dangers
Radiation is not always dangerous -smoke
detectors emit alpha particles -the sun sends
gamma rays -people are radioactive

• Once an atom has gone through decay, it is no
  longer radioactive. The harmful particle is the
  daughter product the atom creates. To protect
  yourself from these daughter products,
• -move as far away from the radiation as possible
• -shield yourself from the radiation

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Shields

• Each type of decay emits a different type of
  particle, so each particle requires a different
  shield.
• Alpha particles
• -very weak, paper will shield you
• Beta particles
• -semi-strong, thin sheet of metal will shield
  you
• Gamma particles
• -very, very strong, several inches of led
  required to shield you

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THE END