Radioactivity and Types of Radiation Quiz

Types of radiation include alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays, each with distinct properties and interactions with matter.

Massive, highly charged particles that cause significant interaction but penetrate very little, stopped by paper or skin.

Electrons or positrons with less mass than alpha particles, penetrate deeper but interact less strongly with matter.

High-energy, massless photons that penetrate matter the most and require thick lead blocks for shielding.

The process where a nuclide decays and emits radiation, often changing into a different element.

The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to decay into a different substance.

A method used to determine the age of an object by measuring the amount of carbon-14 it contains.

The process by which atoms gain or lose electrons, resulting in charged particles, often a consequence of radiation exposure.

A process where a neutron transforms into a proton, emitting a beta particle.

Example of β decay where nickel-63 becomes copper-63.

β decay example used in radiocarbon dating; carbon-14 transforms to nitrogen-14.

Emission of a positron from the nucleus when a proton becomes a neutron.

Results in the same nucleon number (A) but one less proton (Z).

Carbon-11 decays to stable boron-11 through β+ emission.

Process where nucleus captures an electron, converting a proton into a neutron.

Photons released as orbital electrons fill vacancies during electron capture.

A method to estimate ages of fossils using carbon-14 decay.

Carbon-14 is formed by neutron bombardment of nitrogen in the atmosphere.

High-energy protons create neutrons that transform nitrogen into carbon-14.

The constant ratio of carbon isotopes in the environment.

Process by which plants absorb carbon dioxide, affecting carbon ratios.

After death, Carbon-14 decays, changing the 12C/14C ratio.

The difference in 12C/14C ratio estimates the time since death.

A device that detects particles emitted by radioactive nuclei through interactions with matter.

A simple radiation detector that becomes exposed to radiation, indicating exposure levels.

A small case containing photographic film worn to monitor a person's radiation exposure over time.

An instrument that detects radiation through ionization of argon gas, producing measurable clicks.

Atoms created in a Geiger counter when energetic particles pass through argon gas, leading to electrical signals.

A device that detects radiation by converting emitted particles into visible light and then into an electrical signal.

Quantified in counts per minute, related to how many nuclear disintegrations are detected.

The output from radiation detectors, representing the detected dose or presence of radiation.

A positively charged particle emitted during alpha decay, decreasing A by 4 and Z by 2.

A type of radioactive decay involving the ejection of a β− particle, converting a neutron into a proton.

α particles curve towards negative plate, β particles towards positive plate; γ rays remain unaffected.

The original, unstable nuclide that decays into a daughter nuclide.

The resulting nuclide after the decay of the parent nuclide.

In nuclear decay equations, the sum of A and Z values of reactants equals totals of products.

High-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay, uncharged and unaffected by electric fields.

In alpha decay, radium (Ra) decays to radon (Rn) while emitting an α particle.

A process in which an electron is absorbed by a nucleus, transforming a proton into a neutron and decreasing the atomic number by 1.

A decay process where a proton is transformed into a neutron by emitting a positron, which decreases the atomic number by 1.

The release of high-energy gamma photons from an excited nucleus, which lowers its energy without changing A or Z.

A state in which a nucleus has excess energy, leading to the potential emission of gamma rays during decay.

Gamma emission does not change the mass number (A) or atomic number (Z) of a nucleus due to the neutral nature of gamma rays.

Describes how quickly a radioactive substance decays, expressed with the equation Rate = kN, where k is the rate constant and N is the number of nuclei.

A type of reaction where the rate of decay is directly proportional to the remaining amount of radioactive nuclei.