What is radioactivity?

This video explains a bit about radioactivity. This follows on from my electromagnetic radiation video. From here on, my focus will become more specialised and I'll cover a range of topics. But first, I need to cover the basics.

Have a nice day,

Albert.

Biblio:
Introductory Nuclear Physics, Kenneth S. Krane;
Practical Applications of Radioactivity and Nuclear Radiations, G.C. Lowenthal & P.L. Airey;
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-is-radioactivity.html;
http://www.vias.org/physics/bk4_03_05.html;
http://www.kayelaby.npl.co.uk/atomic_and_nuclear_physics/4_5/4_5_3.html;
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nuclear/beta.html;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay;
http://library.thinkquest.org/3471/radiation_types_body.html;

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• nuclear
• science
• radioactivity
• radiation
• alpha
• beta
• gamma
• isomeric
• state
• metastable
• uranium
• 238
• technetium
• 99m
• 99
• potassium
• 40
• thorium
• 234
• calcium
• lab
• coat
• periodic
• table
• tie
• red
• white
• stripes
• goombas
• unstable
• nuclei
• nuclide
• isotope
• radio
• imovie
• physics
• transmutation
• ink
• mirror
• bathroom
• beethoven
• symphony

[gcmarcal]

Nice video. I got lost on the "Megatron emission" bit! But I do know that Optimus Prime is on to him!

[AlbertAldehyde]

@gcmarcal Hahahahaha. I had to ask a friend what Optimus Prime is... how bad is that :/

I think I must have pronounced it too Aussie :). Beta decay can *really* happen 3 way. The first is when a neutron rich nucleus emits a high speed electron (a negative electron can also be called a 'negatron') and also emits an antineutrino. This is usually what beta decay refers to, but to me more technical, it is referred to as negatron emission.

The second type is

[AlbertAldehyde]

@gcmarcal Then, there's positron emission. Which is where a neutron deficient nucleus, changes a proton into a neutron (the opposite from negatron) and emits a 'positron' - a positive electron, which is really the anti-particle of an electron. Positrons are annihilated when they collide with normal matter (not anti-matter) to give gamma radiation. Since everything is made of matter on Earth, they are annihilated almost immediately!

[AlbertAldehyde]

@AlbertAldehyde a neutrino is also emitted here

[AlbertAldehyde]

@gcmarcal And the third which I didn't mention is electron capture, where an ordinary *atomic* electron is captured by the nucleus, and then a proton is changed into a neutron and you get the neutrino emission again. BUT, you also get an electron missing, which is very quickly filled in by another electron, and in the process gives off an x-ray. Sometimes, an outer atomic electron is also emitted (and Auger electron).

[zweefseef]

i just saw a man on rtlnews driving in the dangerzone around fukushima.

he got well within the danger zone (20 km is the dangerzone, he got around 1,5 km)

but he uses a thing wich i can't understand and that is : uSv/h (that 'u' like the utorrent one) i don't understand that part

[AlbertAldehyde]

@zweefseef Hey! I went to a nuclear research centre two week ago, and guess what. If the dose rate was even 1uSv/h, I couldn't enter the experimental area! That is the limit for the general public in Australia.

I made a mistake earlier. The backround dose rate (at least in this part of the world, is much less than 1uSv/h). I'm not too sure exactly what it is, but it shouldn't even be one.

[gcmarcal]

People give the boy a break! It is admirable to see such young person have so much passion and knowledge on a very complex subject!

Keep them coming Albert!

[Arden1472]

Good to know your still making these videos, nice work.

[Rittisan]

Waste of time...waste of energy.. The video fails in it's explanation.