Nuclear Reactions Answers

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Nuclear Reactions

Beta decay occurs when a neutron changes into a proton and an electron. The electron is ejected from the atom at high speed. As a result, the mass number remains the same whilst the atomic number increases by 1.

The beta decay equation rule:

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Nuclear Reactions

When atoms decay by emitting a or b particles to form a new atom, the nuclei of the new atom formed may still have too much energy to be completely stable. The excess energy is emitted as a gamma ray which is a form of electromagnetic radiation.

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Nuclear Reactions

Nuclear fission is the process whereby a nucleus, with a high mass number, splits into 2 nuclei which have roughly equal mass numbers.

The 2 types of nuclear fission that exist are spontaneous fission and induced fission.

Neutrons and energy are always released as a result of nuclear fission.

Nuclear fission can be induced by bombarding an atom with neutrons.

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Nuclear Reactions

The kinetic energy before nuclear fission takes place is a lot less than the kinetic energy after nuclear fission takes place.

Nuclear fusion is the process whereby 2 nuclei, with low mass numbers, combine to produce a single nucleus with a higher mass number.

Neutrons and energy are released as a result of nuclear fusion.

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Nuclear Reactions

E = mc2

E = 2.385 x 10-11 J

The following equation:

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Nuclear Reactions

The following equation:

Nuclear fission.

Beta decay.

Nuclear fusion.

Alpha decay.