What you’ll learn13 learning objectivesChoose one objective for a focused lesson, or study the complete topic.—E.3.1—Isotopes• Isotopes.Syllabus objective—E.3.2—Binding energy and mass defect• Nuclear binding energy and mass defect.• Mass defect connects nuclear mass loss with binding energy.Syllabus objective—E.3.3—Binding energy curve• Use binding energy per nucleon variation with nucleon number.Syllabus objective—E.3.4—Mass-energy equivalence• Mass-energy equivalence in nuclear reactions: E=mc^2.Syllabus objective—E.3.5—Strong nuclear force• Strong nuclear force is short-range and attractive between nucleons.Syllabus objective—E.3.6—Random radioactive decay• Radioactive decay is random and spontaneous.Syllabus objective—E.3.7—Decay nuclear changes• Alpha, beta and gamma decays change nuclear state differently.Syllabus objective—E.3.8—Decay equations• Write radioactive decay equations for α, β-, β+ and γ.Syllabus objective—E.3.9—Neutrinos and antineutrinos• Existence of neutrinos ν and antineutrinos ν.• Neutrinos and antineutrinos are required in beta decay.Syllabus objective—E.3.10—Radiation penetration and ionization• Compare penetration and ionizing ability of α, β and γ radiation.Syllabus objective—E.3.11—Activity, count rate and half-life• Activity, count rate and half-life in radioactive decay.Syllabus objective—E.3.12—Half-life changes• Use integer half-lives to track activity and count rate changes.Syllabus objective—E.3.13—Background radiation• Effect of background radiation on count rate.• Correct count rate for background radiation.Syllabus objective