Nuclear Energy and Radioactive Materials Crossword Puzzle

QUESTIONS LIST:

• alpha particle: has 2 protons and 2 neutrons, is very slow, and can be stopped by paper
• alpha decay: results in a new element mass number decreases by 4 and atomic number decreases by 2
• beta decay: mass number stays the same and atomic number increases by 1
• nuclear fusion: the process where 2 smaller nuclei join together to form a larger nucleus
• nuclear fission: the process where a nucleus splits into smaller pieces
• background radiation: naturally occurring radiation from cosmic rays or radioactive isotopes found in water, soil, and plants
• gamma ray: fastest moving particle can be stopped by lead or concrete
• transmutation: the transformation of the nucleus of an atom so that the atom is changed from one element into a different element
• strong nuclear force: causes protons and neutrons in the nucleus to attract one another
• radioactivity: the process whereby an unstable atom undergoes radioactive decay to become stable
• beta particle: small and fast moving particle and can be stopped by wood
• chain reaction: a series of continuous fission reactions
• conservation laws: mass number is conserved and electrical charge is conserved