Last time we talked about types of nuclear reaction, and we are going to talk about nuclear decay in this post. There are three types of nuclear decay:
Alpha decay (α): Atom -----> new atom + Helium
Beta decay (β): Atom -----> new atom + electron
Gamma decay (γ): Atom ------> same atom + energy
Alpha decay releases Alpha particles, which has the most mass and lowest velocity. Alpha particle can be easily stopped when it meets barrier. Beta decay releases Beta particle or electron, which is more penetrating than Alpha particles. Beta particles will stop when it meet aluminum. Gamma decay releases Gamma rays, which exist in pure energy form and so is the most penetrating one among the three. Gamma rays stop at lead.
It is interesting how when the electrostatic force overcome nuclear force in a nucleus, an atom will just spontaneously splits into smaller particles or the process of decay. My questions are: what are the circumstances required for an atom to undergo Alpha decay, Beta decay and Gamma decay? Is there any break between decays? If so, how long will each break be?
