nuclear physics

Question 1

binding energy

Answer 1

energy required to separate all the nucleons of a nucleus to infinity

Question 2

nuclear fusion

Answer 2

2 light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus

Question 3

nuclear fission

Answer 3

a heavy nuclei breaks into 2 smaller nuclei of approximately the same mass

Question 4

binding energy per nucleon

Answer 4

total energy needed to completely separate all nucleons divided by the number of nucleons in the nucleus

Question 5

mass defect

Answer 5

difference between total mass of the separate nucleons and combined mass of nucleons

Question 6

half life

Answer 6

time taken for a radioactive quantity to decrease to half its initial value

Question 7

radioactive decay

Answer 7

spontaneous and random disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus