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 Chapter 23
Nuclear physics
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this chapter you will learn how to:
âuse the nuclear notation.
âunderstand the fundamental forces between particles.
ârecognize isotopes
âuse the concept of mass defect and binding energy
âsolve problems with mass defect and binding energy.
âcalculate the energy released in nuclear reactions.
âdescribe the variation with nucleon number of the average binding energy per nucleon.
âunderstand radioactive decay, including background radiation, and work with radioactive decay equations.
ârecognize 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
âWhat are the forces acting inside a nucleus?
âWhy are some nuclei stable and others unstable?