what is produced by nuclear decay?
536539
Simple answer:\n\nAlpha particles\nBeta particles\ngamma particles\n\nAnd the remainder is an isotope of the previous element. \n\nBut the more important question you should ask is, "what causes nuclear decay?" And I don't mean "how" it works or "what" happens, my question is, "why does nuclear decay happen at all?" The answer is that no one knows why the atom of nuclear elements decide to break down. But it'll be interesting if you ask the questions to see the different responses.\n\nhope this helps.
439626
Most of the naturally occuring stuff comes from unstable atoms.  When the balance between protrons and neutrons is out of whack, the atom will fly apart.  Depending on the atom, it will break apart in one of 3 ways, it will emit an electron (beta decay), part of the nucleus (alpha) or throw off an electromagnetic wave (gamma). \nGamma also commonly comes from high energy particle hitting the atmosphere and shattering atoms.  The interaction releases a shower of other particles some of which release gamma.  It's nothing to worry about as we evolved under these conditions and our bodies are build to handle it.
728471
Geomagnetic field reversals and changes in intensity are understandable from an energy standpoint as natural consequences of intermittent and/or variable nuclear fission chain reactions deep within the Earth. Moreover, deep-Earth production of helium, having 3He/4He ratios within the range observed from deep-mantle sources, is demonstrated to be a consequence of nuclear fission.
986236
No new matter is created by nuclear processes.\nIn fact matter is destroyed thus realising energy.\nIn the process of Fission heavy atoms are split into two or more light atoms and energy. In this case also no new matter is formed. The weight of new atoms is always less than the weight of the original heavy atom.\nIn the process of Fusion two light atoms join to form one heavy atom. In this case also energy is produced at the expense of weight of matter.
764935
Atoms are most stable at certain energy levels.  If an atom goes above a particular level, it will release energy to go back.  Most of the time, this occurs as electromagnetic radiation, where an electron drops to a lower shell and releases heat (infrared light), light, or more energetic radiation (like x-rays).\n\nIn the case of radioactive decay or nuclear fission, the released radiation is in the form of nuclear particles: alpha particles are helium nuclei (no electrons) and have low energy, and beta particles are electrons, which are higher energy.  Gamma rays are electromeagnetic, not particulate, so they are just photons, and have very high energy.
601803
not much\nsomething else decays into radium, or is recombinant
644768
If you see He written on the product side of a nuclear decay reaction then you can assume that it is alpha particle. Sometimes the alpha symbol is used to denote alpha decay, but for your purpose it will okay to assume that they are the same.
502068
The energy levels for an electronic change (chemical combination) and for a nuclear change (radioactive decay) are so far apart that there is essential no coupling between the processes.  In other words the two processes will act independently.
482516
decay....means to rot and stuff...
678665
Which isotope?\n\nThorium-232 has a half-life of 14 billion (14x109) years, and decays by alpha emission, with accompanying gamma radiation. Thorium-232 is the top of a long decay series that contains key radionuclides such as radium-228, its direct decay product, and radon-220. \n\nTwo other isotopes of thorium, which can be significant in the environment, are thorium-230 and thorium-228. Both belong to other decay series. They also decay by alpha emission, with accompanying gamma radiation, and have half-lives of 75,400 years and 1.9 years, respectively
948220
New radioactive carbon is incorporated into living things all the time (through respiration). When you die, no more radioactive carbon is incorporated, and the radioactive carbon that was in you when you died starts to decay. That's how scientists can tell how long ago you died. Only things that were previously living can be dated by carbon dating.
728031
never, uranium deteriorates in what is known as half lifes..a half life is the amount of time it takes for half of uranium. to deteriorate. it's half life is like 15000 years. half of the remaining  uranium will take \nanother 15000 years. and so......search for half lifes
985750
All elements with atomic number higher than 92 (Uranium) are artificially produced. To do so, they accelerate a neutron (which is hard since neutron has no charge) and then bombard a lighter nucleus with them. The nucleus absorbs a neutron, releases an electron (beta ray) and keeps a proton, so the atomic number will raise one number. (n -> e + p)\nThey do it again and again until they reach the element that they want. but the higher the atomic number, the lower the half life will be (they will last from few months to few micro seconds) when they say that an element is not yet produced but they put it in the periodic table, this means they have evidence that is should exist, but since the half life is short they are unable to detect it, so they have to wait for technology to advance so they can detect it.
14216
Know-it-all... is wrong.\nBeing radioactive, carbon-14 eventually decays to form nitrogen-14 and a  beta particle (high speed electron). \nThe process is called beta decay.\nThe HowStuffWorks link explains it adequately
973296
hi Fellow Genius !,\ngood question.\n\nYES. Protons do decay. they have an average lifetime of about 10 to the power 32 years. Now, since this is an average, it should be possible to monitor a large enough collection of protons, and observe a few decays in the space of an year or so. Such experiments, involving 100s of tons of H2O or some other material, are underway in many parts of the world [eg.: a cave 600m below Lake Erie, Ohio]. However, none of them have yet [so far as I know] found any convincing evidence for the "predicted" decays of protons. [will answer part 2&3 of ur Q seperately] contact me at email address: fizamaker@hotmail.com or IM with me on Y!Messenger [ I am usually online from 9 pm to 5 am India time all night ]. my ID there is :  fizanaqsh . Add my ID to ur contacts so we can talk back and forth on physics and metaphysical questions bothering u and/ or me !  I have a Skype ID also and its : homeworknetguru.\ndo take the trouble of replying if my answer satisfies ur curiosity or not. i am v. much interested in these questions. look out for my answer 2 the third part of ur question re the "arrow of time"
921793
background radiation is naturally occuring radioactive elements that exist in nature.\n\nWhy is it present... good grief that's a good question. God, this is where you would step in with an explanation lol
712861
1. a nuclear reaction\n2. helium\n3. 92U239\n4. cadmium\n5. plutonium\n6. involve changes in the nucleus\n7. americium and curium\n8. atomic weight\n9. energy\n10. nucleus\n11. moderator\n12. cadmium\n13. remains the same\n14. increases\n15. increases\n16. decreases\n17. remains the same\n18. decreases\n19. remains the same (if I'm not mistaken ... please check whether there is any beta particles released ... if there any, then the answer should be decreased)\n20. increases