AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Flashcards: Fission, Fusion, and Nuclear Decay
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 14 cards to help you master important concepts.
How is the radioactive decay of a sample of material described?
Radioactive decay is a process where the number of nuclei in a given sample decreases predictably over time as they decay into other forms.
Card 1 of 14
All Flashcards (14)
How is the radioactive decay of a sample of material described?
Radioactive decay is a process where the number of nuclei in a given sample decreases predictably over time as they decay into other forms.
What are the common products of both fission and fusion reactions?
Both nuclear fission and fusion reactions result in the formation of new, different nuclei as well as subatomic particles.
What types of particles are constrained by physical properties during nuclear interactions?
The behaviors of interacting nuclei, subatomic particles, and nucleons are all constrained by physical properties and conservation laws.
Contrast the primary difference between the nuclei in fission and fusion.
In fission, a large nucleus splits into smaller ones, whereas in fusion, smaller nuclei combine to form a larger one.
What fundamental laws constrain the behavior of particles in a nuclear reaction?
The behavior of particles is constrained by the laws of conservation of energy, conservation of momentum, and energy-mass equivalence.
Which equation represents the principle of mass-energy equivalence?
The equation is $E=mc^2$, where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light.
What is the formula used to predict the number of nuclei remaining in a radioactive sample after a certain time?
The formula is $N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}$, where N is the final number of nuclei, N₀ is the initial number, λ is the decay constant, and t is time.
What are the two main predictive uses of a material's decay constant?
A material's decay constant can be used to predict the number of nuclei remaining in a sample after a period of time, or to determine the age of a material.
Decay Constant (λ)
A value used in the radioactive decay equation that represents the probability of decay of a nucleus per unit time.
What is nuclear fusion?
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more smaller nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, as well as subatomic particles.
To determine the age of a material using radioactive decay, what information must be known besides the decay constant?
To determine the age, the initial amount of the material ($N_0$) and the current amount (N) must be known.
What is nuclear fission?
Nuclear fission is the process by which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, as well as subatomic particles.
In a nuclear reaction, are mass and energy conserved separately?
No, mass and energy are not conserved separately; they are interconvertible, and it is the total mass-energy that is conserved.
What is the principle of mass-energy equivalence in nuclear reactions?
This principle states that for all nuclear reactions, mass and energy are not independently conserved but can be exchanged with one another.