9/25/15
Yesterday we had a lecture in chemistry class about radioactive decay. I have never been very good at half-lives or anything like that. I just don't know why I haven't clicked on the subject. However yesterday was all about alpha decay, beta decay, gamma decay. At first I was confused, but then I completely understood everything about the decay. Have you ever had that click moment? That moment where in just one second, the entire world comes together and you understand anything and everything! After that click moment, I felt like an expert about alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay! Alpha decay is when the atomic mass decreases by 4, and the atomic number decreases by 2. Beta is where the atomic mass stays the same, and the atomic number increases by 1. Gamma decay is where everything stays the same, for gamma always accompanies beta or alpha decay!
Here is more information about Alpha Decay ,Beta Decay , and Gamma Decay.
I'm glad it clicked for you! I remembered very little from freshman year over this subject, if I ever have a question can I come to you? I did take away from the lecture that gamma always accompanies beta and alpha, hopefully that was the most important information!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to you in that sense Brianna, except it only clicked slightly for me during the lecture we had on Thursday. We always have the text book to look to when we are confused, but I was struggling to understand what the text book was saying, and i'm glad that someone posted this because you put it straight forward. I also found the links that you icluded on this post to be helpful as well since it provided more details and information that might prove useful later in the unit.
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