Nuclear Physics Flashcards
Equation for energy and mass equivalence
E=mc^2
Define mass defect
The difference between an atoms mass and the sum of the masses of its protons and neutrons
Mass defect equation
^m=zmp +(A-Z)mn -mtotal
Define binding energy
Energy required to break the nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons
Define binding energy per nucleon
Binding energy of a nucleus divided by the number of nucleons in the nucleus
What does low value of A and high value of A go through
Low A: fusion
High A: fission
Nuclear fusion
Fusing together of 2 small nuclei to produce a larger nucleus
Nuclear fission
Splitting of a large nucleus into smaller nuclei
Radioactive decay
The spontaneous disintegration of a nucleus to form a more stable nucleus results in the emission of gamma, alpha or beta decay
What is spontaneous
A process which cannot be influenced by environmental factors
What is random
A process in which the exact time of decay can not be predicted
Decay constant
The probability that an individual nucleus will decay per unit of time
Activity equation
A=^N/^t =-wavelengthN
Exponentially decay formulas
N=Noe^-wavelengtht
A=Aoe^-wavelengtht
C=Coe^-wavelengtht
Half life
Time taken for the initial number nuclei to decrease by half
