| A | B |
|---|
| radioactivity | process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged particles and energy |
| plasma | a state of matter in which atoms have been stripped of their electrons |
| nuclear radiation | charged particles and energy that are emitted from the nuclei or radioisotopes |
| alpha particle | a positively charted particle made up of two protons and two neutrons |
| beta particle | an electron emitted by an unstable nucleus |
| gamma ray | a penetrating ray of energy emitted by an unstable nucleus |
| background radiation | nuclear radiation that occurs naturally in the environment |
| half-life | is the time required for one half of a sample of a radioisotope to decay |
| transmutation | the conversion of atoms of one element to atoms of another |
| transuranium elements | elements with atomic number greater than 92 |
| quark | a subatomic particle theorized to be among the basic units of matter |
| strong nuclear force | that attractive force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus |
| fission | the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two smaller parts |
| chain reaction | neutrons released during the splitting of an initial nucleus trigger a series of nuclear fissions |
| critical mass | the smallest possible mass of a fissionable material that can sustain a chain reaction |
| fusion | a process in which the nuclei of two atoms combine to form a larger nucleus |
| radioisotope | radioactive isotope |
