answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Many smoke detectors use Americium-241, which emits alpha rays, to keep air ionized.

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What kind of nuclear decay occurs within most smoke detectors?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Is nuclear decay spontaneous or artificial?

Matter can be made to undergo nuclear decay in reactors, but it is a process that occurs spontaneously in nature.


Is an input of energy required in order for nuclear decay to happen in an atom?

No, an input of energy is not required for nuclear decay to happen in an atom. Nuclear decay is a spontaneous process that occurs when an unstable nucleus emits particles or energy to become more stable.


What type of nuclear decay occurs when U-238 becomes Th-234?

Alpha


What energy transformation occurs during radioactive decay?

During radioactive decay, the energy transformation that occurs is the conversion of nuclear potential energy within the unstable atomic nucleus into various forms of energy such as heat, electromagnetic radiation (gamma rays), and kinetic energy of emitted particles (alpha and beta particles).


What are the forms of nuclear decay?

what are the forms of nuclear decay


What is mass converted to in nuclear processes?

nuclear decay, such as alpha decay or beta decay.


Where do nuclear decay occur naturally?

Radioactive Decay occurs naturally all around us. If you test for radiation with a Geiger Counter, you will find that it picks up radiation in the air around you. Mostly, however, radioactive decay occurs in the earth's crust. I cannot name a specific element, as there are many that decay.


Which process is not a common form of natural radioactive decay?

Nuclear fission is not a common form of natural radioactive decay. Nuclear fission occurs when a heavy atomic nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy in the process, but it is primarily associated with artificial processes such as nuclear power generation or nuclear weapons.


Transmutation reactions can occur when the?

In nuclear science, transmutation is where one chemical element or isotope is converted into another. It occurs when materials decay, or it can be caused by nuclear reaction.


Which forces govern atomic decay?

The forces that govern atomic decay are the weak nuclear force and electromagnetic force. The weak nuclear force is responsible for processes like beta decay, while the electromagnetic force is involved in processes like gamma decay. These forces act on the subatomic particles within the nucleus to cause them to change states and decay into more stable configurations.


What nuclear decay have similar qualities to helium nucleus?

Alpha nuclear decay


Which equation represents a spontaneous nuclear decay?

All nuclear decay is spontaneous.