Nucleon, Proton Numbers, Isotope

Nucleons: Nucleons refer to the particles found in the nucleus of an atom. There are two types of nucleons - protons and neutrons.
Proton Numbers: Also known as the atomic number, the proton number is unique to each element on the periodic table. It signifies the number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom. The atomic number also influences the chemical properties of an atom.
Neutron Numbers: Comparable to the proton number, the neutron number defines the number of neutrons present in the nucleus. Differences in neutron numbers can result in isotopes.
Isotopes: These are variants of a particular element that share the same proton number but have different numbers of neutrons. Thus, isotopes of the same element have identical atomic numbers but different mass numbers.
Atomic Mass Unit(amu): In nuclear physics, the atomic mass unit is used to measure the mass of atomic and subatomic particles. The mass of a proton or a neutron is approximately 1 amu.
Radioactive Isotopes: Some isotopes are unstable due to the excess of neutrons, causing them to emit radiation. These are known as radioactive isotopes. They decay over time and in the process emit ionising radiation. Examples include carbon-14 and uranium-238.
Alpha, Beta and Gamma: These are the three main types of nuclear radiation emitted by radioactive isotopes. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons, beta particles are high-energy electrons and gamma rays are electromagnetic waves of very high frequency.
Radiation Detection: Instruments such as the Geiger-Muller counter, scintillation detector, or dosimeter can detect and measure radiation.
Half-life: This term refers to the time taken for half the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay, effectively halving its radioactivity.

Remember, understanding these concepts forms a key part in mastering the topic of radiation.