Nuclear Quiz and Trivia

A proton is a subatomic particle with a positive electric charge and a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).

A neutron is a subatomic particle with no electric charge and a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).

Fission is a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.

Fission is a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons.

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits a beta particle, which is either an electron or a positron.

Gamma decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits a gamma ray, which is a high-energy photon.

Uranium-235 is the isotope of uranium that is used as fuel in nuclear reactors because it is fissile, meaning it can undergo fission when struck by a neutron.

When uranium-235 undergoes fission, it typically splits into two smaller nuclei, one of which is krypton.

When plutonium-239 undergoes fission, it typically splits into two smaller nuclei, one of which is xenon.

Fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two atomic nuclei combine to form a single nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy.

Transmutation is the process by which an atomic nucleus is transformed into a different atomic nucleus by the emission or absorption of particles or energy.

A nuclear reactor is a device that is used to control and sustain a nuclear chain reaction.

A particle accelerator is a device that is used to accelerate charged particles to high energies.

A cyclotron is a device that is used to accelerate charged particles in a circular path.