ASTR 101 Chapter Notes -Issf 10 Meter Air Rifle, Half-Life, Geiger Counter
1 Feb 2014
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The age of the solar system: natural radioactive decay: elements are naturally radioactive meaning they break down into other elements over time (emit gamma, alpha and beta rays in the process) Example: uranium decays into the daughter product, lead at a specific rate over time. Acts as a precise clock known as a chronometer. Analogy: a farmer moves cows to a new field every few weeks and forgets when he should next move them. If the field has lots of manure, it indicates the cows have been there for awhile. Must understand process that eliminate manure from the field (rain) to make a correct calculation of how long the cows have been there. Atoms: atoms contain a massive central nucleus (like the sun in the solar system), composed of protons (+) and neutrons (neutral charge) Electrons orbit the nucleus and are less massive (like planets) and there are usually as many electrons as protons to balance the charge.
