Alpha decay | Physics | Khan Academy

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During alpha decay, a large, unstable parent nucleus becomes a smaller daughter nucleus. It does this by emitting an alpha particle, a clump of two protons and two neutrons (a He-4 nucleus). The nucleus's atomic number decreases by two, and its mass number decreases by four. The alpha particle is high-energy ionizing radiation-it travels at high speed because it carries away the majority of the energy lost by the nucleus during the decay.
Sections:
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Why are heavy nuclei unstable?
03:50 - What is alpha decay?
05:44 - Alpha decay examples
08:31 - How smoke detectors work
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[@ZBeditz241]

A good teacher is like a candle who consume itself to get light 🕯 for others. *RESPECT*

[@hayselw]

I'm learning about this in school this week!! This is perfect!! 🤩 thanks so much Khan Academy

[@jimboase5005]

Another great video. I studies Physics, Chemistry and Maths at university many years ago but have forgotten most of it through lack of practice since then. These videos have renewed my interest in it.

[@smartiespot178]

Awesome Sir

[@sinekonata]

Well my smoke detector goes off without any smoke, I guess it's past its shelf half-life xD
I mean, for such an overkill complex system, you'd expect it to perform better, I just thought it was an interrupted electromagnetic beam that sounded the alarm...

[@ankurec10]

So is alpha decay basically a way to get electricity without burning fossil fuels?

[@carlosvellu1744]

I'm just curious where the strong nuclear force came from ..I know it's an attractive force but how did it came to be at the first place.

[@sciencenerd7639]

hooray chemistry!

[@sinekonata]

Nuclear "chemistry" is still physics, chemistry deals with interactions around coulomb's forces.

[@sciencenerd7639]

@@sinekonata yes, I know that, this was obviously a comment for al gore's rythym

[@hayselw]

first

[@arjunv502]

SCIENCE IS THE BEST

[@gwanx]

rope pls arjun

[@SharayuMulay2396]

But if the electron number is not changing then how is the atomic number changing? I don't really get it

[@user-ng2hc6th8w]

I think atomic number is derived only from the number of protons n neutrons.

[@christinejackson6630]

Atomic number is the number of protons. The number of electrons around the nucleus is irrelevant for atomic number (protons) and mass number (protons + neutrons).

[@SharayuMulay2396]

Okay thanks I got it :)

[@localnoobanimator7732]

Electrons are sooo muchoghter than protons so they don't really matter much

[@aayamshrestha5982]

Love u FloatHeadPhysics @Mahesh_Shenoy. Your videos are amazing.