IB Physics E3 Definitions
This page contains our IB Physics definitions for E3. By learning each one of these definitions, you will fully cover the content for IB Physics 'Radioactive decay'.
Antiparticles
This particle has the same mass as a normal particle but opposite charge and quantum number
Background radiation
It is the daily radiation one can be exposed to
Binding energy per nucleon
It is the ratio of nuclear binding energy to number of nucleons in a nucleus
Fission
It is the splitting of a large nucleus into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy
Fusion
It is the joining of two nuclei to form a larger nucleus, releasing energy
Half-life
It is the amount of time for half of the atoms to decay
Ionizing radiation
It is radiation that it removes electrons from exposed matter
Ions
These are nuclides that have lost or gained electrons, gaining a positive or negative charge
Isotopes
These are nuclides with different numbers of neutrons, and thus different mass numbers
Mass defect
It is the difference in the mass of a nucleus and the sum of its constituent masses
Nuclear binding energy
It is the energy released by the production of a nucleus from its constituent nucleons
Nucleon
It is a particle in the nucleus
Nuclides
These are atoms of one element
Radiation
It is the emission of electromagnetic waves from an atom by electrons
Radioactive decay
It is the process of decomposition of unstable nuclei into lighter nuclei and emission of radiation
Radioactivity
It is the number of decays occurring per second
Unified atomic mass unit
It is defined as one twelfth the mass of a Carbon-12 atom
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