| Term | Definition |
|---|
| alpha particle | a positively charged atom that is released in the disintegration of radioactive elements and that consists of two protons and two neutrons |
| artificial transmutation | the transformation of atoms of one element into atoms of another element as a result of a nuclear reaction, such as bombardment with neutrons |
| beta particle | a charged electron emitted during certain types of radioactive decay, such as beta decay |
| chain reaction | a continuous series of nuclear fission reactions |
| control rod | a neutron-absorbing rod that helps control a nuclear reaction by limiting the number of free neutrons |
| critical mass | the minimum mass of a fissionable isotope that provides the number of neutrons needed to sustain a chain reaction |
| daughter nuclide | a nuclide produced by the radioactive decay of another nuclide |
| decay series | nuclides produced by successive radioactive decay until a stable nuclide is reached |
| electron capture | the process in which an inner orbital electron is captured by the nucleus of the atom that contains the electron |
| film badge | a device that measures the approximate amount of radiation received in a given period of time by people who work with radiation |
| gamma ray | the high-energy photon emitted by a nucleus during fission and radioactive decay |
| Geiger-Müller counter | detects and measures the intensity of radiation by counting the number of electric pulses that pass between the anode and the cathode in a tube filled with gas |
| half-life | the time required for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to disintegrate by radioactive decay or by natural processes |
| magic numbers | the numbers 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126 that represent the number of particles in an extrastable atomic nucleus that has completed shells of protons and neutrons |
| mass defect | the difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of the atom's protons, neutrons, and electrons |
| moderator | a material that slows the velocity of neutrons so that they may be absorbed by the nuclei |
| nuclear binding energy | the energy released when a nucleus is formed from nucleons |
| nuclear fission | the splitting of the nucleus of a large atom into two or more fragments; releases additional neutrons and energy |
| nuclear fusion | the combination of the nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases energy |
| nuclear power plant | a facility that uses heat from nuclear reactors to produce electrical energy |
| nuclear radiation | the particles that are released from the nucleus during radioactive decay, such as neutrons, electrons, and photons |
| nuclear reaction | a reaction that affects the nucleus of an atom |
| nuclear reactor | a device that uses controlled nuclear reactions to produce energy or nuclides |
| nuclear shell model | a model which represents nucleons as existing in different energy levels, or shells, in the nucleus |
| nuclear waste | waste that contains radioisotopes |
| nucleon | a proton or neutron |
| nuclide | an atom that is identified by the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus |
| parent nuclide | a radionuclide that yields a specific daughter nuclide as a later member of a radioactive series |
| positron | a particle that has the same mass and spin as an electron but that has a positive charge |
| radioactive dating | the process by which the approximate age of an object is determined based on the amount of certain radioactive nuclides present |
| radioactive decay | the disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus into one or more different nuclides |
| radioactive nuclide | a nuclide that contains isotopes that decay and that emit radiation |
| radioactive tracer | a radioactive material that is added to a substance so that its distribution can be detected later |
| rem | the quantity of ionizing radiation that does as much damage to human tissue as 1 roentgen of high-voltage X rays doesscintillation counter |
| scintillation counter | an instrument that converts scintillating light into an electrical signal for detecting and measuring radiation |
| shielding | a radiation-absorbing material that is used to decrease radiation leakage from nuclear reactors |
| transmutation | the transformation of atoms of one element into atoms of a different element as a result of a nuclear reaction |
| transuranium element | a synthetic element whose an atomic number is greater than that of uranium (atomic number 92) |
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