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Radioactivity is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy through radiation. The most common types of radiation are alpha, beta, and gamma, but other types of radioactive decay include proton emission, neutron emission, and spontaneous fission of large nuclei.
Here are some examples of radioactive decay:
Alpha decay: An atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (helium nucleus), which transforms the nucleus into a different atomic nucleus with a mass number reduced by four and an atomic number reduced by two
Beta decay: A beta ray is emitted from an atomic nucleus, transforming the proton in the nucleus into a neutron, or vice versa. Beta decay is differentiated into two types: Beta minus and Beta plus
Gamma decay: A decay from an excited to a lower state, releasing energy that is carried away by a photon
Radioactivity has many applications in medicine and industry, including in smoke alarms, nuclear power plants, and food irradiation.
Related Test: A Level Physics Practice Test: Nuclear Physics
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