SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICAL SCIENCE

LESSON 1 : NUCLEAR REACTION AND ORIGIN OF e) Beta Particle - High speed electron
f) Gamma ray - High energy stream of photons
ELEMENTS
g) Positron - Positive charge electron
MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION TO NUCLEAR REACTIONS
“Everything around us is matter,
which is composed of varying combinations of any of the 114 elements
identified to be present in the universe, including Earth.”

IMPORTANT KEY TERMS:

1. NUCLEAR REACTIONS
 Are processes in which a nucleus either combines with
another nucleus (through nuclear fusion) or splits into
smaller nuclei (through nuclear fission).
 These processes involve the emission of energetic particles
of an atom, a phenomenon known as radioactivity.
 Nuclear Fusion
 Is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei come
close enough to form one or more different atomic
nuclei and subatomic particles (neutrons or protons).
 Nuclear Fission
 Is a process used to create energy. It is when an atom
splits apart into smaller atoms. The process gives off a
lot of energy, and is used in nuclear weapons and
nuclear reactors.
 Radioactivity
 Also known as “radioactive decay or nuclear decay”
 Is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus
loses energy (in terms of mass in its rest frame) by
emitting radiation, such as an alpha particle, beta
particle with neutrino or only a neutrino in the case of
electron capture, gamma ray, or electron in the case of internal conversion.
 The radioactive particles may be elements, electrons, protons and neutrons.
a) Electron - negative charge
b) Proton - positive charge
c) Neutron – no charge
d) Alpha Particle - high speed particle consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons

Subject Teacher : Ms. Pedelou A. Dulnuan Page 1