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Most smoke detectors which operate alarms contain an artificially produced radioisotope: americium-241 in the form of americium dioxide. Americium-241 is made in nuclear reactors, and is a decay product of plutonium-241. It emits mostly alpha particles and relatively little harmful gamma radiation. The amount of americium in a typical new smoke detector is 1 microcurie or about 0.29 micrograms. The smoke detector works by using the americium as a source of ionizing radiation to ionize the air in an ionization chamber between two electrodes. The slightly ionized air allows a small current to be conducted between the two electrodes. When smoke enters the chamber, it absorbs some of the ionizing radiation, reducing or eliminating the current and triggering the alarm.
What else can I help you with?
What term indicates the process in which unstable nuclide release radiation?
If it is related to Nuclear studies, then the answer would be fusion.
What type of radioactive decay releases energy from the nucleus without a change of protons neutrons?
This is a gamma-decay.
What type of reaction results in the change of protons and neutrons?
radioactive decay
The half-life of a radioactive element is?
The time it takes for half of the atoms to decay, and become some other type of atom.
Do smoke detectors use infrared rays?
Photo-electric (PE - as opposed to the ionization type of) smoke detectors do indeed use the reduction of light energy at the receiving end to "Sound The Alarm". Whether or not this is IR energy, I can't say. Might someone else please fill this in? Thanks.
Geothermal energy is caused by what type of decay?
It is Radioactive Decay.
What term indicates the process in which unstable nuclide release radiation?
If it is related to Nuclear studies, then the answer would be fusion.
What type of radioactive decay the largest and most damaging particles?
alpha decay
What type of radioactive decay results in uranium becoming thorium?
Alpha decay
What determines the type of radioactive decay that occurs?
Rutherford
When radioactive decay occurs a atom is always produced by the action?
During any type of radioactive decay, one isotope (type of atom) will convert into a different isotope.
What is an ionization smoke detector and how does it differ from other types of smoke detectors?
An ionization smoke detector is a type of smoke alarm that uses a small amount of radioactive material to ionize the air inside the detector. When smoke particles enter the detector, they disrupt the ionization process, triggering the alarm. This type of smoke detector is more sensitive to fast-burning, flaming fires, but less sensitive to slow, smoldering fires. In comparison, photoelectric smoke detectors use a light beam to detect smoke particles, making them better at detecting slow, smoldering fires. Dual-sensor smoke detectors combine both ionization and photoelectric technologies for more comprehensive fire detection.
How many type of smoke detectors?
There are basically two types of smoke detector; one type measures the opacity of the air to literally "see" if there is smoke. The other type tests for ionization that occurs when there is a fire. That type smoke detector uses a small radioactive chip to determine if freshly ionized smoke is present. It's a far more accurate means of determining the presence of fire and associated hazardous smoke. Many smoke detectors use a combination of both detectors. A separate type of detector is the carbon monoxide detector, which senses the presence of harmful carbon monoxide in the air. Most will even indicate the percentage of carbon monoxide. Note that carbon monoxide is typically present when a furnace or other heating device malfunctions.
What type of radioactive decay results in uranium-238 becoming thorium-234?
Alpha decay
Is technetium a synthetic element used in smoke detectors?
Americium is the radioactive element used in ionization type smoke detectors. It is a by-product of the nuclear power industry. In the device, it is present as the oxide, which is rather chemically inert and has a high melting point. As a small capsule enclosed in metal foil. Your exposure to radiation from an ionization smoke detector is smaller than your exposure received by sleeping alongside your partner who is converting K40 into Ar40.
What type of radioactive decay releases energy from the nucleus without a change of protons neutrons?
This is a gamma-decay.
What type of radioactive decay resulted in uranium 238 becoming thorium 234 and how do you know?
This is an alpha decay.
