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This deck focuses on Types Of Radioactive Decay, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 2.
AP Physics 2 Flashcards: Types Of Radioactive Decay
Study Types Of Radioactive Decay in AP Physics 2 with focused flashcards that help you recognize the idea, recall the key rule, and apply it in practice-style prompts.
AP Physics 2
Types Of Radioactive Decay
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QUESTION
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What is gamma decay?
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ANSWER
Emission of a high-energy photon, no change in atomic or mass number. Only releases excess nuclear energy as photons.
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Flashcard 1: What is gamma decay?
Answer: Emission of a high-energy photon, no change in atomic or mass number. Only releases excess nuclear energy as photons.
Flashcard 2: What is isomeric transition in radioactive decay?
Answer: Emission of gamma photons as nucleus moves to lower energy state. Metastable nucleus decays to ground state.
Flashcard 3: What is electron capture?
Answer: An inner electron is captured by the nucleus, converting a proton to a neutron. Also emits X-rays from electron shell rearrangement.
Flashcard 4: What is a decay series?
Answer: Sequence of decays leading from one isotope to a stable isotope. Multiple steps reach final stable nucleus.
Flashcard 5: What is the effect of beta-minus decay on neutron count?
Answer: Decreases neutron count by converting a neutron to a proton. One fewer neutron, one more proton.
Flashcard 6: What occurs during spontaneous fission?
Answer: A heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei and particles. Releases large amounts of energy and neutrons.
Flashcard 7: Which decay involves electromagnetic radiation?
Answer: Gamma decay involves electromagnetic radiation. Emits high-energy photons (γ rays).
Flashcard 8: Which process decreases atomic number by 1?
Answer: Beta-plus decay or electron capture decreases atomic number by 1. Both convert proton to neutron, reducing charge.
Flashcard 9: What is transmutation in nuclear decay?
Answer: Conversion of one chemical element to another during decay. Changes atomic number, creating new element.
Flashcard 10: Identify a decay that reduces mass number by 4.
Answer: Alpha decay reduces mass number by 4. Loses one helium-4 nucleus (mass = 4).
Flashcard 11: Identify the decay increasing atomic number by 1.
Answer: Beta-minus decay increases atomic number by 1. Neutron converts to proton plus electron.
Flashcard 12: What is electron capture?
Answer: An inner electron is captured by the nucleus, converting a proton to a neutron. Also emits X-rays from electron shell rearrangement.
Flashcard 13: What is alpha decay?
Answer: Emission of a helium-4 nucleus (2 protons, 2 neutrons). The α particle has mass 4 and charge +2.
Flashcard 14: How does alpha decay affect atomic number?
Answer: Decreases atomic number by 2. Loses 2 protons in alpha particle.
Flashcard 15: Identify the decay process with no charge change.
Answer: Gamma decay has no change in charge. Only nuclear energy state changes.
Flashcard 16: During which decay does mass number remain unchanged?
Answer: In beta and gamma decay, the mass number remains unchanged. No nucleons are lost, only energy changes.
Flashcard 17: What is the effect of radioactive decay on stability?
Answer: Decay increases nuclear stability. Moves nucleus toward valley of stability.
Flashcard 18: What particle is involved in neutron capture?
Answer: A neutron is absorbed by the nucleus. Increases mass number by 1.
Flashcard 19: What is the effect of electron capture on atomic number?
Answer: Decreases atomic number by 1. Inner electron combines with proton.
Flashcard 20: What is the primary change in beta-minus decay?
Answer: A neutron is converted into a proton. Increases proton count, decreases neutron count.
Flashcard 21: How does alpha decay affect atomic number?
Answer: Decreases atomic number by 2. Loses 2 protons in alpha particle.
Flashcard 22: Which decay involves a neutrino emission?
Answer: Beta-plus decay involves neutrino emission. Electron capture also emits neutrino.
Flashcard 23: Which decay increases atomic number by 1?
Answer: Beta-minus decay increases atomic number by 1. Neutron becomes proton, increasing nuclear charge.
Flashcard 24: What is gamma decay?
Answer: Emission of a high-energy photon, no change in atomic or mass number. Only releases excess nuclear energy as photons.
Flashcard 25: What is the parent isotope?
Answer: The original unstable isotope before decay. The starting nucleus before transformation.
Flashcard 26: What occurs in neutron emission?
Answer: A neutron is emitted, reducing mass number by 1. Direct emission reduces nucleon count.
Flashcard 27: What is the definition of a radionuclide?
Answer: A radioactive isotope of an element. Unstable nucleus with excess energy or mass.
Flashcard 28: Which decay increases atomic number by 1?
Answer: Beta-minus decay increases atomic number by 1. Neutron becomes proton, increasing nuclear charge.
Flashcard 29: Which decay process enhances neutron-to-proton ratio?
Answer: Beta-plus decay increases the neutron-to-proton ratio. Converts proton to neutron, increasing ratio.
Flashcard 30: What is the energy source in radioactive decay?
Answer: Nuclear binding energy is released during decay. Mass defect converts to kinetic energy.
Flashcard 31: During which decay does mass number remain unchanged?
Answer: In beta and gamma decay, the mass number remains unchanged. No nucleons are lost, only energy changes.
Flashcard 32: What is positron emission?
Answer: Proton converts to neutron, emitting a positron and neutrino. β+ decay decreases atomic number by 1.
Flashcard 33: What is a decay series?
Answer: Sequence of decays leading from one isotope to a stable isotope. Multiple steps reach final stable nucleus.
Flashcard 34: What is the effect of electron capture on atomic number?
Answer: Decreases atomic number by 1. Inner electron combines with proton.
Flashcard 35: What is beta decay?
Answer: Conversion of a neutron to a proton with emission of an electron. Also releases an antineutrino for conservation.
Flashcard 36: What is the effect of beta-minus decay on neutron count?
Answer: Decreases neutron count by converting a neutron to a proton. One fewer neutron, one more proton.
Flashcard 37: What is alpha decay?
Answer: Emission of a helium-4 nucleus (2 protons, 2 neutrons). The α particle has mass 4 and charge +2.
Flashcard 38: What is the effect of radioactive decay on stability?
Answer: Decay increases nuclear stability. Moves nucleus toward valley of stability.
Flashcard 39: What particle is a helium nucleus?
Answer: An alpha particle is a helium nucleus. Contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons bound.
Flashcard 40: Identify the decay reducing both atomic number and mass.
Answer: Alpha decay reduces both atomic number and mass. Loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons total.
Flashcard 41: What is the parent isotope?
Answer: The original unstable isotope before decay. The starting nucleus before transformation.
Flashcard 42: What is the primary change in beta-plus decay?
Answer: A proton is converted into a neutron. Increases neutron count, decreases proton count.
Flashcard 43: Which decay involves electromagnetic radiation?
Answer: Gamma decay involves electromagnetic radiation. Emits high-energy photons (γ rays).
Flashcard 44: Which process decreases atomic number by 1?
Answer: Beta-plus decay or electron capture decreases atomic number by 1. Both convert proton to neutron, reducing charge.
Flashcard 45: What is the daughter isotope?
Answer: The stable isotope formed after decay. The product nucleus after decay occurs.
Flashcard 46: Define nuclear decay.
Answer: Spontaneous transformation of an unstable atomic nucleus. Random process driven by quantum mechanics.
Flashcard 47: What particle is a helium nucleus?
Answer: An alpha particle is a helium nucleus. Contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons bound.
Flashcard 48: What is beta decay?
Answer: Conversion of a neutron to a proton with emission of an electron. Also releases an antineutrino for conservation.
Flashcard 49: Identify the decay reducing both atomic number and mass.
Answer: Alpha decay reduces both atomic number and mass. Loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons total.
Flashcard 50: What is the primary change in beta-minus decay?
Answer: A neutron is converted into a proton. Increases proton count, decreases neutron count.
Flashcard 51: What is a decay chain?
Answer: A series of successive radioactive decays until a stable nucleus is formed. Continues until reaching valley of stability.
Flashcard 52: What particle is involved in neutron capture?
Answer: A neutron is absorbed by the nucleus. Increases mass number by 1.
Flashcard 53: Define half-life in terms of radioactive decay.
Answer: Time required for half the radioactive nuclei to decay. Exponential decay follows first-order kinetics.
Flashcard 54: Which decay emits an antineutrino?
Answer: Beta-minus decay emits an antineutrino. Conservation requires antineutrino with electron.
Flashcard 55: Identify a decay that reduces mass number by 4.
Answer: Alpha decay reduces mass number by 4. Loses one helium-4 nucleus (mass = 4).
Flashcard 56: What is the daughter isotope?
Answer: The stable isotope formed after decay. The product nucleus after decay occurs.
Flashcard 57: What is the primary change in beta-plus decay?
Answer: A proton is converted into a neutron. Increases neutron count, decreases proton count.
Flashcard 58: What is positron emission?
Answer: Proton converts to neutron, emitting a positron and neutrino. β+ decay decreases atomic number by 1.
Flashcard 59: What is the energy source in radioactive decay?
Answer: Nuclear binding energy is released during decay. Mass defect converts to kinetic energy.
Flashcard 60: What occurs in neutron emission?
Answer: A neutron is emitted, reducing mass number by 1. Direct emission reduces nucleon count.
Flashcard 61: What is a decay chain?
Answer: A series of successive radioactive decays until a stable nucleus is formed. Continues until reaching valley of stability.
Flashcard 62: What is isomeric transition in radioactive decay?
Answer: Emission of gamma photons as nucleus moves to lower energy state. Metastable nucleus decays to ground state.
Flashcard 63: Which decay process enhances neutron-to-proton ratio?
Answer: Beta-plus decay increases the neutron-to-proton ratio. Converts proton to neutron, increasing ratio.
Flashcard 64: Which decay emits an antineutrino?
Answer: Beta-minus decay emits an antineutrino. Conservation requires antineutrino with electron.
Flashcard 65: What occurs during spontaneous fission?
Answer: A heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei and particles. Releases large amounts of energy and neutrons.
Flashcard 66: Identify the decay process with no charge change.
Answer: Gamma decay has no change in charge. Only nuclear energy state changes.
Flashcard 67: What is the definition of a radionuclide?
Answer: A radioactive isotope of an element. Unstable nucleus with excess energy or mass.
Flashcard 68: Which decay involves a neutrino emission?
Answer: Beta-plus decay involves neutrino emission. Electron capture also emits neutrino.
Flashcard 69: Identify the decay increasing atomic number by 1.
Answer: Beta-minus decay increases atomic number by 1. Neutron converts to proton plus electron.
Flashcard 70: What is the result of positron emission on charge?
Answer: Reduces positive charge by converting a proton into a neutron. Proton becomes neutron, reducing nuclear charge.
Flashcard 71: What is the result of positron emission on charge?
Answer: Reduces positive charge by converting a proton into a neutron. Proton becomes neutron, reducing nuclear charge.
Flashcard 72: Define half-life in terms of radioactive decay.
Answer: Time required for half the radioactive nuclei to decay. Exponential decay follows first-order kinetics.
Flashcard 73: What is transmutation in nuclear decay?
Answer: Conversion of one chemical element to another during decay. Changes atomic number, creating new element.