Nuclear Physics Flashcards

(12 cards)

1
Q

What does a mass defect mean?

A

It is defined as the difference between the total mass of the separate nucleons in a nucleus and the combines mass of the nucleus

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2
Q

Define Binding energy

A

It is defined as the energy of required to separate the nucleons in a nucleus to infinity. It is also the energy equivalent of the mass defect of a nucleus.

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3
Q

Define binding energy per nucleon

A

It is defined as the average energy per nucleon needed to separate a nucleus into its constituent nucleons to infinity.

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4
Q

Define radioactive decay

A

It is spontaneous and random process in which an unstable nucleus emits alpha particles, beta particles of gamma radiation to become more stable.

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5
Q

Define exponential decrease

A

It refers to a situation where a quantity reduces at a rate proportional to its current value.

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6
Q

Define half life

A

Half life of a radioactive nuclei is the time taken for the number of undecayed nuclei to be reduced to half of its original number.

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7
Q

What does it mean by activity

A

The activity of a radioactive source is defined as the number of nuclear disintegrations per unit time in the source.

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8
Q

What does spontaneous decay mean?

A

It is one which is not triggered or affected by external factors such as temperature and pressure.

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9
Q

What does it mean by a random decay?

A

It is one in which it cannot be predicted which nucleus will decay next.

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10
Q

What is the penetrating power of alpha particles?

A

Weak, can be stopped by a piece of paper. Range in air is only a few cm.

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11
Q

What is the penetrating power of beta particles?

A

Moderate, can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium. Range in air is only about a metre.

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12
Q

What is the penetrating powet of gamma radiation?

A

The strongest, can only be stopped by at least 10cm of lead shielding. Penetrated almost unlimited thickness of air and several metres of concrete.

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