Last updated on: 03/11/2010
Atomic and Nuclear

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Topic Outline--print off before 1/27/10

bulletUnit Objectives This is a summary of the syllabus statements that are detailed on the topic outline.
bulletUnderstand the nuclear model of the atom and atomic energy levels
bulletExplain the structure of an atom and interactions within the nucleus
bulletUnderstand and explain the general process of natural radioactive decay
bulletDescribe the properties and characteristics of alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays
bulletUnderstand and describe the processes and products of alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay
bulletDescribe the biological effects of exposure to ionizing radiation
bulletExplain nuclear stability
bulletDescribe radioactive half-life; use a decay curve to determine the half-life of a nucleus; solve problems involving half-lives
bulletUnderstand and describe the processes of fission and fusion
bulletUnderstand and apply Einstein's mass-energy equivalence to determine energy produced during nuclear reactions
bulletUnderstand the concept of binding energy, including the interpretation of a binding energy curve

 

Interesting link:  biography of Louis Slotin (referenced in "Dirty Bomb" video)

bulletUnit Activities
bulletExperimental determination of the half-life of a radioactive substance
bulletResearch project:  Applications of Nuclear Physics
bulletCloud Chambers
bullet 

 

bulletKey Terms
bulletNucleus
bulletNeutron
bulletProton
bulletElectron
bulletPlanetary Model of the atom
bulletatomic energy level
bulletGeiger-Marsden experiment (gold foil experiment)
bulletnuclide
bulletisotope
bulletnucleon
bulletnucleon number
bulletproton number
bulletneutron number
bulletstrong nuclear force
bulletweak nuclear force
bulletnatural radioactive decay
bulletneutrino
bulletantineutrino
bulletalpha (a) particle
bulletbeta (b-) particle
bulletbeta (b+) particle
bulletgamma (g) radiation
bulletionizing radiation
bulletAlpha decay
bulletbeta decay
bulletgamma decay
bulletpositron emission
bulletelectron capture
bulletradioactive half-life
bulletdecay curve
bulletartificial (induced) transmutation
bulletnuclear equations
bulletunified atomic mass unit
bulletMeV c-2  and GeV c-2
bulletmass-energy equivalence relationship
bulletmass defect
bulletbinding energy
bulletbinding energy per nucleon
bulletbinding energy graph
bulletnuclear fission
bulletnuclear fusion
bulletproton-proton cycle
bulletNuclear power
bulletcontrolled nuclear fission
bulletuncontrolled nuclear fission
bulletnuclear chain reaction
bulletmoderator
bulletcontrol rods
bulletthermal fission reactor
bulletcritical mass
bulletfuel enrichment

 

bulletUnit Equations--

E = mc2

The next equations are not in your data booklet, but will also be handy to know (these you must memorize through repeated practice...you will NOT be given these for any test or quiz!):

mdefect = mexpected - mmeasured

n = (½)x·N       
where
n is the number of particles (or the mass) remaining after x half-lives and N is the initial quantity

 

 

bulletUnit Notes
bulletIntro to nuclear physics --(pdf)--notes beginning 1/25/10
bullet Nuclear Decay processes (pdf) --notes beginning 2/7/10
bullet Radioactive Boyscout:  E.C. book assignment --due at the end of the day on Friday, March 26
bullet Lab (half-life) from 2/22/10
bulletNotes: Nuclear Reactions (pdf)--notes beginning 2/26/10
bulletNotes:  nuclear power (pdf)