Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy notes
26 notes by 16 users
This page gathers over 20 community-made notes on nuclear physics and nuclear energy, from atomic structure to radioactive decay and fusion. School students can practice identifying key ideas, while teachers can find material to use. The collection is mainly school-level, with some university-level material. Choose a note to start studying.
Notes
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stable and unstable nuclei The strong nuclear interaction: this is the force that binds nucleons together. Gravity is far too weak to overcome electrostatic forces, so there must be a strong nuclear force to hold it together. Distance and the s...
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Nuclear Physics: Radioactivity Radioactivity:Spontaneous emission of radiation due to the natural disintegration of an unstable nucleus RadiationEmission of particles of matter or photons of energy Types of RadiationAlpha (α)Beta (β)Gamma (ɣ)
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Nuclear Physics: Atomic Structure Atomic StructureNegatively charged electrons orbiting a positively charged nucleus Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment This experiment changed the idea that the atom was made up of a random mixture of electrons an...
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Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Structure Components of the nucleus - nucleons Protons - positively charged nucleons Neutrons - electrically neutral nucleons Atomic number (Z): The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom Each element has a unique atomic n...
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THE HISTORY OF NUCLEAR Uranium was discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, a German chemist, and named after the planet Uranus.Ionising radiation was discovered by Wilhelm Rontgen in 1895, by passing an electric current through an evacuated ...
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RADIOACTIVE DECAY Nuclear decay is- A process of disintegration that occurs when unstable nuclei decay in an attempt to attain stability, until their N/Z (neutron/proton) number falls within the stability limit/ band of stability. Disi...
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ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS Geiger Marsden/ Rutherford/Charged particle scattering experiment: Beam of alpha particles fired at very thin gold foil; bombard gold atoms. Most of the particles pass through without deflection, some deflected throug...
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HIstory of Nuclear Energy - created from Mind Map Important dates Important dates for atom studies Crucial towards atom bomb
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Triumf Cyclotron What is a cyclotron? "atom smashers" take particles and make them go at extremely high speeds at very high energy, you can make mesons, particles beyond our traditional proton, neutron, electron view of th...
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Sub-topic 7.1 Lesson 2 - Radioactive Decay Sub-topic 7.1 Lesson 2 - Radioactive Decay Textbook References: Tsokos (6th Edition) pp ; Oxford Text: pp 273 - 276 Syllabus Outcomes Covered In This Lesson: Understandings: Radioactive decay Fundamental forces and th...
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Nuclear Physics Rutherford's alpha scattering experiment Most of the fast, highly charged alpha particles went whizzing straight through undeflected. This was the expected result for all of the particles if the plum pu...
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decay Unstable atoms are radioactive.Radioactivity can be modelled by exponential decayThe number of atoms that decay per second is the activityActivity is proportional to size of sampleactivity = decay constant x number of...
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Sub-topic 7.2 Lesson 2 - Mass Defect & Binding Energy Sub-topic 7.2 Lesson 2 - Mass Defect & Binding Energy Textbook References: Tsokos (6th Edition) pp ; Oxford Text: pp 284 - 289. Syllabus Outcomes Covered In This Lesson: Understandings: Mass defect and nuclear binding...
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Sub-topic 7.2 Lesson 3 Nuclear Fission & Fusion Sub-topic 7.2 Lesson 3 - Nuclear Fission & Fusion Textbook References: Tsokos (6th Edition) pp; Oxford Text: pp - Syllabus Outcomes Covered In This Lesson: Understandings: Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion Applicatio...
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Sub-topic 7.2 Lesson 1 - Unified Atomic Mass Unit Sub-topic 7.2 Lesson 1 - Unified Atomic Mass Unit Textbook References: Tsokos (6th Edition) pp ; Oxford text pp 283 - 284; Syllabus Outcomes Covered In This Lesson: Understandings: The unified atomic mass unit Applica...
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1_Lesson Template Sub-topic 7.1 Lesson 2 - Radioactive Decay Textbook References: Tsokos (6th Edition) pp Syllabus Outcomes Covered In This Lesson: Understandings: Radioactive decay Fundamental forces and their properties Alpha particl...
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Particles RUTHERFORD'S EXPERIMENT: Firing alpha particles at thin gold foil Zinc sulphide scintillates when hit by alpha particles Most particles passed straight through foil (A) One in a while, knocked off course (B) Small pro...
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Sub-topic 7.1 Lesson 3 Half-life Sub-topic 7.1 Lesson 3 - Half-Life Textbook References: Tsokos (6th Edition) pp ; Oxford Text: pp - ; Syllabus Outcomes Covered In This Lesson: Understandings: Half-life Applications & Skills: Determining the half-lif...
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Nuclear Physics: Radioactive Decay Radioactive Decay When radiation is emitted from a nucleus, it undergoes decay The amount of decay is dependent on the type of emission Alpha Emission Emission of a helium nucleus from a large atom Here is the symbol ...
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Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Energy Types of Nuclear Reactions: Alpha, beta or gamma emission from radioactive nuclei Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion Einstein's Mass-Energy Equivalence Equation:E = mc² E = energy M = mass C = speed of light Fission...
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Radioactivity ALPHA PARTICLES very ionising; will cause the atoms to become ions by making them lose electrons. dangerous to the human body. can be deflected using a small angle to the NEGATIVE side of a field. poorly penetrating: ...
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Constituents of the Atom Need to know and calculate: Simple model of the atom, including the proton, neutron and electron. Charge and mass of the proton, neutron and electron in SI units and relative units. The atomic mass unit (amu) is inclu...
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Tim Meier Science Notes 2 1. Alpha Particles (Symbol: α ) · Composed of: 2 Neutrons and 2 Protons · Penetrating power is: blocked by paper When a radioactive element releases an alpha particle the mass…decreases and the element changes…into a ...
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Nuclear Energy Notes Nuclear EnergyBy Laura Dibble The Neutron hits the nucleus, and splits it apart, and it gives off three neutrons. Those three neutrons hit another 3 nucleus', and then 9 more, then 27, and so on. In nuclear reactors, ...
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Nuclear Fusion Nuclear FusionWhen these isotopes H-2 and H-3 are joined together at high speeds they create Helium-4 which gives of high amounts of energy and also one neutron, this is what happens on our star(the Moon). We have tri...
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Radioactivity - created from Mind Map Types of radioactivity Alpha2 neutrons and 2 protons helium nucleus most massive of the radiations is the slowest of the radiations has the biggest charge of 2+ strongly ionises (why it is the slowest) Betait is an el...
More Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy resources
About nuclear physics and nuclear energy notes
GoConqr OriginalNuclear physics and nuclear energy notes
These notes let you focus on one part of the unit at a time. Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Energy covers fission, fusion and mass-energy equivalence. Other notes cover atomic structure, radioactivity, decay and half-life.
How to use the notes
For an entry point into energy, start with Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Energy and identify the types of nuclear reactions it lists. If you want to understand the nucleus first, read Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Structure, which introduces protons, neutrons and atomic number.
After reading, close the note and try to explain its main ideas in your own words. Return to any section you find hard to describe. When you want to see how ideas connect, switch to a mind map on the unit page; when you want to check your understanding, try a quiz there.
Pick a topic and open the note that fits what you are studying.
Frequently asked questions
Which note should I start with?
Start with Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Structure if you want to work on the parts of the nucleus and atomic number. For a focus on energy, Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Energy introduces types of nuclear reactions, including fission and fusion, as well as mass-energy equivalence.
Do the notes cover radioactive decay?
Yes. Nuclear Physics: Radioactive Decay describes what happens when a nucleus emits radiation, including alpha emission. There is also a note on half-life and a note titled decay that describes activity and exponential decay. You can choose the one that matches the idea you are studying.
Are these notes free to use?
Yes. Every resource listed here is free to open and study without an account. The notes were made by GoConqr users. A free account also lets you make your own notes, quizzes, mind maps and flashcards, and save your quiz scores.