Nucleus 2

Physics SSS3 First Term

WEEK 5

Nucleus

Performance Objectives

Students should be able to;

1. Solve simple problems involving halflife of radioactive substances.
2. Use the concept of nuclear fision for the development of nuclear energy programme for Nigeria.

Transformation of Elements

Content
There are two types of radioactivity – natural and artificial radioactivity.

The phenomenon of radioactivity was first discovered by Henri Becquerel

Natural radioactivity is the spontaneous disintegration of the nucleus of an atom during which α-particle or β-particle, or gamma rays or a combination of any or all the three and heat (or energy) are released.

When a radioactivity element undergoes radioactive decay, it may emit either α-particle, β-particle or γ rays. This changes the atomic number of the…