Physics 12 Unit 20 Nuclear Physics

 After studying this chapter students will be able to: 

• describe a simple model for the atom to include protons, neutrons and 

electrons. 

• determine the number of protons, neutrons and nucleons it contains for the 

specification of a nucleus in the form 2XA. 

• explain that an element can exist in various isotopic forms each with a 

different number of neutrons. 

• explain the use of mass spectrograph to demonstrate the existence of 

isotopes and to measure their relative abundance. 

• define the terms unified mass scale, mass defect and calculate binding 

energy using Einstein's equation. 

• illustrate graphically the variation of binding energy per nucleon with the 

mass number. 

• explain the relevance of binding energy per nucleon to nuclear fusion and 

to nuclear fission. 

• identify that some nuclei are unstable, give out radiation to get rid of 

excess energy and are said to be radioactive. 

• describe that an element may change into another element when 

radioactivity occurs. 

• identify the spontaneous and random nature of nuclear decay. 

• describe the term half-life and solve problems using the equation 

λ=0.693/T 1/2

• determine the release of energy from different nuclear reactions. 

explain that atomic number and mass number conserve in nuclear 

reactions. 

describe energy and mass conservation in simple reactions and in 

radioactive decay. 

describe the phenomena of nuclear fission and fusion. 

describe the fission chain reaction. 

• describe the function of various components of a nuclear reactor. 

• describe the interaction of nuclear radiation with matter. 

a describe the use of Geiger Muller counter and solid-state detectors to 

detect the radiations. 

describe the basic forces of nature. 

Ga describe the key features and components of the standard model of matter 

including hadrons, leptons and quarks. 




























































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