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Questions for Thought
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1

How is a radioactive material different from a material that is not radioactive?
2

What is radioactive decay? Describe how the radioactive decay rate can be changed if this is possible.
3

Describe three kinds of radiation emitted by radioactive materials. Describe what eventually happens to each kind of radiation after it is emitted.
4

How are positively charged protons able to stay together in a nucleus since like charges repel?
5

What is half-life? Give an example of the half-life of an isotope, describing the amount remaining and the time elapsed after five half-life periods.
6

Would you expect an isotope with a long half-life to be more, the same, or less radioactive than an isotope with a short half-life? Explain.
7

What is (a) a curie? (b) a rad? (c) a rem?
8

What is meant by background radiation? What is the normal radiation dose for the average person from background radiation?
9

Why is there controversy about the effects of long-term, low levels of radiation exposure?
10

What is a mass defect? How is it related to the binding energy of a nucleus? How can both be calculated?
11

Compare and contrast nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.





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