Physics GCSE
Nuclear instability
What Nuclear instability means in Physics GCSE, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Nuclear instability
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Nuclear instability in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
Some nuclei have too much energy or an unsuitable balance of protons and neutrons, so they are unstable and may emit radiation.
Topics that use Nuclear instability
- Radioactive emissions (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- Absorbing materials
- Alpha emission
- Beta emission
- conservation of charge
- conservation of mass number
- Conventional nuclear notation
- Electron energy levels
- Emission and absorption of electromagnetic radiation
Using Nuclear instability in the exam
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