Nuclear Reactions, Radioactivity, Fission and Fusion - Professor Dave Explains
Forces
Electromagnetism
Strong Nuclear Force
Gravity
Weak, Universal scale
Strong, molecular scale
Weak Nuclear Force
Strong, nuclear scale
Weak, nuclear scale
Nuclear Proceses
Strong Nuclear Force
Weak Nuclear Force
Facilitates nuclear decay
holds the atomic nucleus together
radiation
Discovered by Henri Becquerel in 1896
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3 different forms
Beta
Alpha
Gamma
A large particle made of two neutrons and two protons (a helium nucleus)
a small particle consisting of a nucleus-originated electron/ positron produced when a neutron spontaneously splits into a proton and an electron (if there is too many neutrons) or when a proton splits into a neutron and a positron (if there are too many protons)
an electromagnetic wave
can be stopped by a thin layer of a material (e.g. skin)
can be stopped by a thicker layer of a material (e.g. alluminium can)
can be stopped by multiple centimetres of a dense material (e.g lead)
very dangerous to humans if ingested/inhaled
dangerous to humans
harmful to humans in large amounts
Nuclear Reactions
Fusion
Fission
an atomic nucleus splits releasing new atoms of a different element and large amounts of energy
two atomic nuclei collide to form a new atom whilst releasing massive amounts of energy
Fission happens because the strong nuclear force which keeps the atom together is overpowered by the electromagnetic force which repels protons away from eachother