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