is this physics ? chemistry? idk :3
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The nucleus of an atom is always in tension between two forces. The electromagnetic force is pushing the protons apart because similar charges oppose each other. The strong nuclear force, though, is much stronger than the electromagnetic force *at a shorter distance*. Neutrons, with no charge, share the strong force with each other and protons, but aren’t affected by the electromagnetic force which is why heavier elements with more protons need more neutrons to stay together.
But the strong nuclear force is *very* short distance – barely more than the diameter of a single proton. That means that nucleons (protons and neutrons) are only holding onto the nucleons very close to themselves. On the other hand, the electromagnetic force is weaker but has infinite range. Protons are being pushed away by every other proton in the nucleus, but only being held together by the nucleons next to them.
Radioactive elements are the ones where the balance between protons and neutrons is off, and eventually the electromagnetic force will win. For elements heavier than lead, there is no balance and no matter what the configuration is, they’ll fall apart eventually (although some isotopes are more stable than others). There is also the weak nuclear force, which turns protons into neutrons and vice versa, which disturbs that balance.
When the nucleus falls apart, it releases energy. An analogy would be pulling apart two ends of a rubber band. The rubber band is trying to bring the two ends together, but your hands are pulling them apart harder. Eventually, the rubber band can’t be stretched anymore and snaps.
Likewise, the strong nuclear force is *really* trying to pull the nucleons together. When the nucleus falls apart, the strong force is being pulled and stretched until it can’t stretch anymore and “snaps” which releases energy.
Radioactive elements can release different particles when they decay, but all energy in the universe eventually ends up as heat. Those particles will either collide with other nuclei around them and cause them to decay, or just smash into them and bang them around; or, the particles will collide with whatever is surrounding the fuel, like the air or water. Those particles can also collide with *you* – more accurately, your cells and the DNA inside them, which is bad.
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