Intro to radioactive decay | Physics | Khan Academy

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During radioactive decay, an unstable nucleus (the "parent") spontaneously changes to become a different nucleus (the "daughter"), emitting radiation in the process. The nuclear radiation emitted during radioactive decay is high energy, ionizing radiation. Nuclear radiation is potentially dangerous to living things but also has many beneficial applications. Types of radioactive decay include alpha, beta, and gamma.

Sections:
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Chemical reactions don't change elements
01:35 - Nuclear composition
02:11 - Isotopes
04:00 - What is radioactivity?
05:38 - Example of radioactive decay
06:40 - Ionizing radiation

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[aveeshgupta]

you are the best physics and chemistry teacher on the planet

[missy]

Great video! I have a physics exam tomorrow so this is greatly appreciated.

[PollardEducation-teyj]

Oh this is going to be a great series! Thx!

[CupCake-nzyb]

i love how u explain them. i like the way u talk too. u are so amazing.✨

[merlingrey]

very well explained! excited for the other parts to this series :)

[MrKlimcio]

So... stupid fantasy question: if we could control the process and stop it when we want could we achieve the alchemist's dream of turning lead into gold?

[HappyOrwell]

Thank you so much for making such a clear and un intimidating intro to the basics of this stuff

[firasfadhl]

What makes them unstable. You mentioned because they're heavy and then you mentioned that there's also unstable ones that are not heavy. I don't get the actual reason 😅? Is it because of the ratio(protons/neurons) for both heavy and none heavy nucleus?or there's something else?