radioactivity articles
What is the spontaneous emission of radiation from an unstable atomic nucleus known as?
What particles constitute the nucleus and are collectively referred to as nucleons?
Which powerful, short-range attractive force binds protons and neutrons together against electrostatic repulsion?
What approximate ratio of neutrons to protons is typically required for stability in lighter atomic nuclei?
Why do heavier stable nuclei require a higher ratio of neutrons to protons?
What process defines the shedding of excess internal energy when an unstable nucleus seeks a lower energy state?
In the case of a neutron-rich nucleus, what conversion allows it to lower its neutron count and achieve stability?
What happens to a nucleus during pure gamma emission?
What characterizes the time parameter $T_{1/2}$ in radioactive samples?
What physical principle explains the substantial energy released when a nucleus transitions to a lower energy configuration?
What mechanism do very heavy, large nuclei typically use to reduce their size and mass?
What is the defining characteristic that makes radioactive decay unpredictable at the level of an individual atom?
Where is the Sun's radiative zone located within the structure?
What mechanism primarily transports energy through the radiative zone?
What specific entities carry energy as they move through the radiative zone?
Up to what approximate solar radius does the radiative zone extend outward from the center?
How long does energy migration through the radiative zone typically take?
What property of the plasma causes the extreme delay in photon travel time?
How does energy generation in the radiative zone compare to the core?
How does energy transport in the radiative zone differ from the convective zone?
Approximately what temperature exists at the outer edge of the radiative zone?