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Chapter 23

Nuclear physics

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

In this chapter you will learn how to:

●use the nuclear notation.

●understand the fundamental forces between particles.

●recognize isotopes

●use the concept of mass defect and binding energy

●solve problems with mass defect and binding energy.

●calculate the energy released in nuclear reactions.

●describe the variation with nucleon number of the average binding energy per nucleon.

●understand radioactive decay, including background radiation, and work with radioactive decay equations.

●recognize the properties of alpha, beta and gamma particles.

understand basic nuclear properties.

calculate the distance of closest approach

evaluate the evidence for the strong nuclear force

recognize why the existence of the neutrino was postulated.

use nuclear energy levels

work with the radioactive decay law.

GUIDING questions

●What are the forces acting inside a nucleus?

●Why are some nuclei stable and others unstable?