| A | B |
|---|
| alpha particle | form of radio active decay consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons (the equivalent of a helium nucleus) |
| artificial transmutation | changing one element into another by bombarding it with particle bullets in a particle accerlator |
| beta particle | tiny negative particle (or "nuclear electron") emitted by a neutron during beta decay |
| radioisotope | an isotope of any element that is unstable, or radioactive |
| fusion | lighter nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus |
| fission | spliting of the nucleus of an atom |
| gamma radiation | a highly penetrating type of nuclear reaction, similar to x-rays and light |
| half-life | the time it takes half the mass or half the atom of a given sample to decay |
| radioactive tracer | substance that contains a radioactive atom to allow easier detection and measurement |
| transmutation | the changing of a nucleus of one element to the nucleus of another element through the gain or loss of protons |
