This diagram covers Nuclear Decay Equations within Radioactive Decay for GCSE Physics. Revise Radioactive Decay in Atomic Structure for GCSE Physics with 15 exam-style questions and 6 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 5 of 14 in this topic. Focus on the labels, the relationships between parts, and the explanation that turns the diagram into an exam-ready answer.
📊 Nuclear Decay Equations
Figure 2: Balancing nuclear equations — mass numbers and atomic numbers must balance on both sides.
BALANCING TIP: Add up mass numbers on both sides (must be equal). Add up atomic numbers on both sides (must be equal). The alpha particle is ⁴₂He, the beta particle is ⁰₋₁e.
Practice questions for Radioactive Decay
An alpha particle consists of which particles?
Explain why alpha radiation is described as highly ionising but weakly penetrating.