1. Launch:10/7
Grab a your binder and immediately take a seat
Place last night’s homework on your desk
1. Identify which type of radiation ( , , or ) can
penetrate the following:
i. A piece of paper
ii. A piece of cardboard
iii. A thin piece of wood
iv. A thin piece of metal
v. A really thick piece of lead
3. How does the nucleus
change during
radioactive decay?
Mr. Heffner
10/7/09
4. What is radioactive decay?
During radioactive decay…
Parent Isotope Daughter Product
(Unstable) (Stable)
α, β, or γ particle
5. How can we predict the
daughter products?
Three step process
Step #1: Express isotope as a symbol
Step #2: Set-up the equation
Step #3: Solve and identify the element
16. Exit Slip
1. Which of the following is the correct symbol for a
particle?
a. 42He
b. 24He
c. 0-1e
d. 00
17. Exit Slip
2. What happens to the nucleus of an atom when it
undergoes alpha decay?
a. The composition of the nucleus does not change
because it only releases energy
b. The nucleus loses two protons and transforms into a
new element due to the change in atomic number
c. The nucleus loses two neutrons and transforms into
a new element due to the change in atomic mass
d. The nucleus loses an electron and does not change
it’s identity
18. Exit Slip
3. The transformation of thorium-234 to
protactinium-234 is an example of
a. alpha decay.
b. beta decay.
c. gamma decay.
d. none of the above.
19. Exit Slip
4. Which of the following correctly represents the
alpha decay of Polonium-214?
20. Exit Slip
5. Which of the following is the daughter product for
the beta decay of Uranium-236?
a. 23292U
b. 23290Th
c. 23692U
d. 23693Np
