Radioactive Decay

Alpha particles have very little kinetic energy, and are fairly safely stopped by a few centimeters of air or something as thin as a sheet of paper. Of course, they can travel unimpeded through a vacuum.

No stable isotopes.

give off nuclear radiation

weak force

Electron capture is the absorption of an electron by an atomic nucleus if that nucleus is neutron poor. An electron is captured, usually from an inner electron shell of that atom, and it will convert a proton in the nucleus into a neutron. We know that a neutron is converted into a proton and an electron in neutron decay, so it might be looked at as something of an opposite nuclear reaction where a proton and an electron combine to form a neutron.

A nucleus can be inherently unstable. It can absorb an energetic photon (photoactivation) and become unstable. It can capture positrons, electrons, neutrons, and protons and become unstable. Decay processes include: # Alpha emission, a high energy 4He nucleus # Beta emission, a high energy electron # Beta+ emission / Beta capture, either a positron is emitted or an electron is captured into the nucleus (Burp!) # Gamma emission, one or more high energy photons are emitted # Neutron emission, neutrons of varying energies may be ejected in the process of a heavy nucleus decay (even tritium).

The final product is not radioactive.

9 × 10^13 J

alpha particles

Yes, copper-60 (Cu-60) is a radioactive isotope that undergoes beta decay. It has a half-life of about 23.7 minutes, meaning it decays relatively quickly. During the decay process, copper-60 transforms into nickel-60 (Ni-60) by emitting beta particles. This makes Cu-60 unstable and subject to decay over time.

The idea is to divide the energy by c squared - where c is approximately 3 x 10 to the power 8 meters/second. Since all the units involved are in SI, the answer will be in kilograms.

Radon can cause cancer.

You forgot to say that isotope is.

As you did not specify an isotope of cesium, I will assume you meant natural cesium. Natural cesium is not radioactive so it does not decay.

There will always be the same 10 g of cesium, no matter how long you wait.

The concept of half-life is used to measure the rate of radioactive decay in elements, not to determine when dinosaurs died. Paleontologists use various dating techniques, such as radiometric dating of the rocks associated with dinosaur fossils or relative dating based on the position of fossils in rock layers, to estimate when dinosaurs lived and became extinct.

The correct order of nuclear decay mode for the changes from U-238 to U-234 is alpha decay followed by beta decay. In alpha decay, the nucleus emits an alpha particle, reducing its atomic number by 2 and mass number by 4, resulting in Th-234. This is followed by beta decay, where a neutron is converted into a proton, producing U-234.

2.25 times 10 to the 15

By becoming unstable

Decay can occur in various contexts, including biological, chemical, and physical environments. In biology, organic matter such as food and plant material decomposes due to microbial activity. In chemistry, substances may undergo decay through processes like radioactive decay, where unstable isotopes transform into more stable forms over time. Additionally, physical objects, like metals and wood, can decay or deteriorate due to environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, and exposure to pollutants.

One type of atom (nuclide) breaks up, emitting some particle and energy, and converting into another type of nuclide.

Pressure does not have a significant effect on the rate of radioactive decay, as it is mainly influenced by the instability of the nucleus of the atom. The decay process is determined by the nuclear forces within the atom, which are not significantly affected by external pressure changes.

The radioactive decay of Phosphorus-32 emits only betaparticles (i.e. electrons) with a halflife of slightly longer than two weeks. No electromagnetic radiation at all is emitted.

All living things absorb C14 carbon while they are alive on earth. When they die, they stop absorbing C14 and it begins to decay. Radiocarbon dating measures the amount of carbon-14 left in human or plant remains, and then scientists can estimate the amount of time the thing has been dead