answersLogoWhite

0

Alpha radiation is when big chunks of an atom are expelled. They are typically protons or a combination of protons and sometimes neutrons.

Beta radiation is when electrons are expelled from a decaying atom.

Gamma radiation is when electromagnetic waves are expelled from a decaying atom.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Physics

What happens when an unstable nucleus undergoes radioactive decay?

Particles or electromagnetic radiation are emitted.


What is radioactive in physics?

In physics, radioactive refers to the property of certain nuclei to spontaneously decay and emit radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. This radioactive decay process results in the transformation of the nucleus into a more stable configuration.


What makes a nucleus radioactive?

If you are referring to a cell's nucleus than the simple answer is that's not radioactive. Radioactivity occurs when elemental atoms become unstable due to the loss or gain of additional neutrons; these unstable atoms are referred to as radioactive isotopes. If a cell's nucleus were radioactive it would not last very long, its structure and function would quickly degrade and collapse.


Why are radioactive isotopes unstable?

Radioactive isotopes are unstable because they have an imbalance of protons and neutrons in their atomic nuclei. This imbalance causes the nucleus to be energetically unstable, leading to the emission of radiation in the form of alpha or beta particles in order to achieve a more stable configuration.


What is the name of the spontaneous process that releases particles and energy from the nucleus of an atom?

The name of the spontaneous process is nuclear decay or radioactive decay. This process involves the release of particles (such as alpha or beta particles) and energy from the unstable nucleus of an atom in order to achieve a more stable configuration.

Related Questions

What happens to a nucleus of an unstable atom?

An unstable nucleus can undergo radioactive decay to become more stable. This can involve emitting radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. The decay process results in a transformation of the nucleus into a different element or isotope.


What process is a radioactive decay?

The process of a radioactive decay is atomic nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing particles


What happens during radiocative decay?

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. This emission helps the nucleus become more stable by transforming it into a different element. The rate at which radioactive decay occurs is measured by the half-life of the unstable nucleus, which is the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.


What happens when an unstable nucleus undergoes radioactive decay?

Particles or electromagnetic radiation are emitted.


An unstable isotope with extra energy in the nucleus?

An unstable isotope with extra energy in the nucleus is a radioactive isotope. This extra energy causes the nucleus to undergo radioactive decay, emitting particles or gamma rays in order to become more stable. This process can involve the release of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma radiation.


What happens during radioactive decay apex?

An unstable nucleus loses particles until it becomes stable.


What it means when an element is radioactive?

Radioactive elements have unstable nucleii. When an unstable nucleus decays it emits energy in the form of electromagnetic waves and heavy particles and in the process forms new nucleii.


If an element is radioactive is it's nucleus unstable?

Yes,The element is radioactive due to the instability of its nucleus.See the related question below for more information.


What happens when strong forces are not sufficient enough to hold an unstable nuclei together?

When strong forces are not strong enough to hold an unstable nucleus together, the nucleus can undergo radioactive decay. This can result in the release of particles or energy, such as alpha or beta particles, to stabilize the nucleus.


What does an unstable nucleus emit?

An unstable nucleus (radioactive isotope) may emit: alpha particles, beta particles, gamma radiations, electrons, positrons, X-rays, and neutrons, depending on which nucleus is doing the emitting.


What makes an element unstable or radioactive?

The stability of an atom depends on a balance between the numbers of protons and neutrons in its nucleus and also on the total size of its nucleus; atoms with sufficiently large nuclei are inherently unstable. Please see the link.


What is An unstable isotope is called what?

It isn't really an ELEMENT that is unstable, but an ISOTOPE. That means that in general, for the same element, some atoms will decay, and some will not - the difference being the number of neutrons in the nucleus.