Student Exploration: Nuclear Decay
Vocabulary: alpha particle, atomic number, beta particle, daughter product, gamma ray,
isotope, mass number, nuclear decay, positron, radioactive, subatomic particle
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
The chart below gives the locatio...
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
The chart below gives the locations, charges, and approximate masses of three subatomic
particles. The approximate mass of each particle is given in universal mass units (u).
Particle Location Charge Approximate mass
+
Proton Nucleus 1 1u
Neutron Nucleus 0 1u
–
Electron Orbitals 1 0u
1. The mass number of an atom is equal to the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
A helium atom has 2 protons and 2 neutrons. What is the mass number of this atom? 4 U_
2. The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in each atom of the
element. All helium atoms have 2 protons. What is the atomic number of helium? _2_
Gizmo Warm-up
While most atoms are stable, some are radioactive, which
means that they have a tendency to undergo spontaneous
nuclear decay. The decay of radioactive atoms generally
results in the emission of particles and/or energy.
Several types of nuclear decay can be explored with the
Nuclear Decay Gizmo. On the Gizmo, check that Alpha
decay and Uranium are selected.
1. Click Play ( ), and then click Pause ( ) when the alpha particle is clearly visible. What is
an alpha particle made of? _the particle is made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons and looks
like a helium._
2019
, 2. Click Play and observe. Besides the alpha particle, what else is emitted from the nucleus
during alpha decay? __a gamma wave was emitted when the alpha particale was
emitted.____
Gamma rays are energetic electromagnetic waves; they are often emitted in nuclear decay.
2019
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