Introduction
A radioactive isotope is one that has an unstable nucleus, meaning that it can break apart and release a lot of energy. A non-radioactive isotope does not have a stable nucleus. This means that it cannot break apart and release any energy, but it still has mass, and therefore weight. There are significant differences between radioactive isotopes and non-radioactive isotopes. For instance, a radioactive isotope has a nucleus that contains an unstable number of protons and neutrons, whereas a non-radioactive isotope has a stable number of protons and neutrons. In addition, radioactivity is controlled by the speed at which electrons move within the atom’s nucleus.
Discussion
Fission and fusion both release energy, but the way they do it is different. Fission releases energy by breaking apart a heavy element into smaller pieces. Fusion releases energy by combining light elements to form heavier elements. The types of atoms involved are also different: fission only occurs in heavy elements, while fusion can occur in any type of atom. Fission releases energy by splitting the nucleus of a heavy element into two smaller nuclei. This means that more protons are released than before, which causes an increase in the total number of neutrons in the nucleus. Fusion releases energy by joining lighter atoms together. This results in the creation of a heavier element with fewer neutrons than before.
Conclusion
There are three main types of radioactive decay: alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay. Alpha particles, which are positively charged particles, will be emitted from the nucleus of an atom. Alpha particles are also produced as byproducts of nuclear fission and fusion reactions. They have a high energy level and can cause damage to living organisms that come into contact with them. Beta particles are also positively charged particles but are less energetic than alpha particles. Beta particles can cause damage to living organisms when they come into contact with them because they also have a high level of energy. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation released by radioactive decay processes. Gamma rays can damage living organisms if they come into contact with them at sufficient intensity levels and duration times.