Assignment Summary In this project, you will create models of various atomic nuclei and how they change during radioactive decay, fission, or fusion. First, you will complete a table that summarizes how the structure of the nuclei changes during each of these processes. This will help you plan your models. Background Information Atoms with large nuclei, low neutron to proton ratios, or high neutron to proton ratios are unstable and will undergo radioactive decay. Radioactive decay is spontaneous, meaning it does not require additional energy. There are several forms of radioactive decay: alpha, beta-minus, beta-plus, and gamma radiation. Each type of decay releases a different type of particle and a different amount of energy. Alpha and beta decay also result in changes to the composition of the nucleus, altering the numbers of protons and neutrons. In nuclear fission, an atom with a large nucleus is bombarded with a neutron and breaks into two smaller atoms with smaller nuclei. It is important to note that for fission, several daughter elements are possible since the splitting of a large nucleus can result in an array of different elements. In nuclear fusion, two small atoms are combined to form a larger atom. The results of these processes are new elements and the release of a large amount of energy.