| A | B |
|---|
| Nuclear Radiation | high-energy particles and rays that are emitted by the nuclei of some atoms |
| Radioactivity | the ability for some atoms to give off nuclear radiation |
| Radioactive decay | the process in which the nucleus of a radioactive atom releases nuclear radiation |
| Alpha Decay | The release of an alpha particle from the nucleus |
| Alpha particle | two protons and two neutrons |
| nuclear fusion | 2 or more nuclei with small masses join together to form a more massive nucleus |
| Beta Particle | electron or a positron |
| half-life | the amount of time it takes for one-half of the nuclei of a radioactive isotope to decay |
| Nuclear fission | The process in which a large nucleus splits nto two smaller nuclei with the release of energy |
| nuclear chain reaction | a continuous series of nuclear fission reactions |
| beta decay | Release of a beta particle from the nucleus |
