Physics A-Level
Alpha emission
What Alpha emission means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Alpha emission
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Reference: AQA
A helium nucleus is emitted, so the daughter nuclide has Z decreased by 2 and N decreased by 2, with mass number A decreased by 4.
Topics that use Alpha emission
- Nuclear instability (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Beta-minus decay
- Beta-plus decay
- Conservation laws
- Electron capture
- Gamma emission
- Nuclear equations
- Nuclear excited state
- Nuclide notation
Using Alpha emission in the exam
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