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23. Nuclear physics

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2 topics · 13 learning objectives

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  1. 23.1 Mass defect and nuclear binding energy

    1. • understand the equivalence between energy and mass as represented by E = mc 2 and recall and use this equation

    2. • represent simple nuclear reactions by nuclear equations of the form NH eO H7 14 2 4 8 17 1 1"++

    3. • define and use the terms mass defect and binding energy

    4. • sketch the variation of binding energy per nucleon with nucleon number

    5. • explain what is meant by nuclear fusion and nuclear fission

    6. • explain the relevance of binding energy per nucleon to nuclear reactions, including nuclear fusion and nuclear fission

    7. • calculate the energy released in nuclear reactions using E = c 2∆m

  2. 23.2 Radioactive decay

    1. 23.2.1Fluctuations in count rate provide evidence for the random nature of

      • understand that fluctuations in count rate provide evidence for the random nature of radioactive decay

    2. 23.2.2Radioactive decay is both spontaneous and random

      • understand that radioactive decay is both spontaneous and random

    3. 23.2.3Activity and decay constant, and recall and use A = λN

      • define activity and decay constant, and recall and use A = λN

    4. 23.2.4Half-life

      • define half-life

    5. 23.2.5Λ = 0.693 / t 1/2

      • use λ = 0.693 / t 1/2

    6. 23.2.6The exponential nature of radioactive decay, and sketch and use the

      • understand the exponential nature of radioactive decay, and sketch and use the relationship x = x 0e–λt, where x could represent activity, number of undecayed nuclei or received count rate