Radioactivity occurs when unstable nuclei undergo decay from "summary" of Atoms Under the Floorboards by Chris Woodford
Radioactivity is a natural process that occurs when certain types of atomic nuclei are unstable and undergo decay. At the heart of an atom lies its nucleus, which is made up of protons and neutrons. While some nuclei are stable and remain unchanged over time, others are inherently unstable and prone to breaking apart. This instability is due to an imbalance between the forces holding the nucleus together and the forces trying to break it apart. When an unstable nucleus undergoes decay, it releases particles and energy in the form of radiation. There are several types of radioactive decay, including alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay. In alpha decay, a nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons. Beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle, which can be either an electron or a positron. Gamma decay, on the other hand, results in the releas...
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