CHAPTER 20 - RADIOACTIVITY AND NUCEAR REACTIONS
[HANDWRITTEN ON SEPARTE PIECES OF NOTEBOOK PAPER]
20.1 - The Nucleus
1. Define: strong force, radioactivity, isotope
2. What will be the same in all isotopes – atomic number or mass number?
3. What makes an atomic nucleus unstable?
20.2 - Nuclear Decays and Reactions
4. Define: alpha particle, beta particle, chain reaction, fission, fusion
5. Describe the penetration ability for each radioactive particle.
6. Which nuclear radiation particles has no mass?
7. What happens when the strong force is not enough to hold the nucleus tightly together?
8. What element is most likely to be produced during a nuclear fusion reaction?
9. Which state of matter is most common for the high temperatures that are required for
fusion to occur?
10. What does the stability of a nucleus depend on?
11. What happens when a neutron strikes other nuclei during the process of fission?
12. Write the nuclear equation for hydrogen fusion.
13. Describe the differences between fission and fusion.
14. Draw a picture depicting the fission of Uranium-235.
15. What process occurs in all stars?
16. How are fission and fusion similar?
17. What would be the greatest benefit of switching to nuclear fusion in power plants when and
if this becomes available?
18. What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power?
19. What is required for nuclear fusion to occur?
20. Write the missing information in the following nuclear equations (rewrite entire equation on
notebook paper).
20.3 – Radiation Technologies and Applications
21. Define: half-life
22. Half-Life Problems
a) Plutionium-241 is an isotope of plutonium that is highly radioactive and issued in some
nuclear reactors and many nuclear weapons. It has a half-life of 14.4 years. If 1000 g of
Pu-241 is placed in storage at a weapons plant, how much will still be remaining after
28.8 years?
b) Atoms of element A decay to atoms of element B with a half-life of 20,000 years. If there
are 10,000 atoms of A to begin with (and 0 atoms of B), how long will it take for there to
be 2,500 atoms of A?
c) Cobalt-60 can be used by scientists for the purpose of radioactive dating. Cobalt-60 has
a half-life of 5,272 years. A fossilized rock originally contained 25 grams of Co-60. When
tested, the rock only contains 6.25 grams of Co-60. Approximately how old is the item?
d) Thorium-229 is the radioactive substance that gives lantern mantels their eerie glow.
The half-life of thorium-229 is 7340 years. If one mantel consists of 0.25 grams of
thorium, how much thorium will remain after 14,680 years?
23. What does carbon-14 allow scientists to determine?
ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO BE TURNED IN WITH STUDY GUIDE:
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Isotopes and Radioactivity Notes
Modeling Fission and Fusion Packet - beads and skittles
Nuclear Power, Fission and Fusion Worksheet
Balancing Nuclear Equations and Half-life Calculations
CER on Isotopes and Half-lives