National University Ho Chi Minh City
University of Technology
General Physics 2
Nuclear Physics
Dr. Gary Weston
Department of Applied Physics
Faculty of Applied Physics
Chapter 9 Outline
Nuclear Physics
● History of Nuclear Physics
● Overview of Nuclear Physics
● Structure and Basic Properties of the Nucleus
● Binding Energy
● Nuclear Forces
● Radioactivity
● Radioactive Processes
● Nuclear Fission Reactions
● Nuclear Fusion Reactions
● Detection of Radiation
● Elementary Particle Physics
History of Nuclear Physics
● Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen: Discovery of X-rays - 1895
● Henri Becquerel: Discovery of Radioactive Uranium -1896
● Marie and Pierre Curie: Discovery of Radioactive Po and Ra - 1898
● Ernest Rutherford: Nuclear Model of the Atom - 1911
● James Chadwick: Discovery of the Neutron - 1932
● Otto Hahn and Lise Meitner: Discovery of Nuclear Fission - 1938
● Hans Bethe: Discovery of Nuclear Fusion - 1938
● Manhattan Project (Enrico Fermi): Development of A-Bomb - 1945
● Teller and Ulam: Development of the Hydrogen (H) Bomb - 1952
● Nuclear Power Plant Developments: USSR, UK, USA - 1954-1957
● Murray Gell-Mann and George Zweig: Discovered Quarks - 1964
● Lawrence Livermore National Lab: 1st Nuclear Fusion Reaction, + Net Energy - 2022
Rutherford: Large Angle Scattering of α Particles from
Gold Foil → Nucleus must be the Dense Core of Atom
Atom versus Nucleus
Nucleus of an Atom
Overview of Nuclear Physics
● Nucleus of Atom: Dense Core-Positive Protons and Neutral Neutrons
● Nucleus Bound by Strong Nuclear Forces between p-p, p-n, n-n
● Some Nuclei are Stable and Some Nuclei are Unstable
● Mass of a Nucleus is Less than the Mass of the Protons and Neutrons
● Nuclei Have Binding Energy: Energy Required to Breakup Nucleus
● Unstable Nuclei Undergo Radioactive Decay (α, β, and γ)
● Nuclei and Held Together by the Strong Nuclear Force
● Weak Nuclear Force Apparent in Nuclear Decays and Fusion Reactions
● Any Physical Process Conserves Nucleon Number
Composition of the Atomic Nucleus
Properties of the Nucleus
Nuclear Radius versus Atomic Mass (Nucleon) Number
Distribution of Stable Nuclides (N versus Z)
Atomic and Nuclear Dimensions
Question 1 - Similarities/Differences between Different Isotopes of an Element
What do different isotopes of the same element have in common? What is different
about different isotopes of the same element?
Question 1 - Similarities/Differences between Different Isotopes of an Element
Question:
What do different isotopes of the same element have in common? What is different
about different isotopes of the same element?
Answer:
All isotopes of the same element have the same number of protons in their nuclei and
also the same number of electrons in their neutral atoms. As a result, all isotopes of
the same element will also have the same chemical properties. Different isotopes of
the same element will have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei and therefore
have different atomic masses.
Question 2 - Nuclear Isotope Notation
Given the isotope: 92X238
a) What element symbol represented by X in the isotope above?
b) What is the atomic number, Z, of the isotope above?
c) What is the neutron number, N, of the isotope above?
d) What is the nucleon number, A, of the isotope above?
Answers to Question 2 - Nuclear Isotope Notation
Question:
Given the isotope: 92X238
a) What is the atomic number, Z, of the isotope above?
b) What element symbol represented by X in the isotope above?
c) What is the nucleon number, A, of the isotope above?
d) What is the neutron number, N, of the isotope above?
Answers to Question:
a) Since ZXA = 92X238 → Z = 92 protons
b) Since Z = 92 → X = U (Uranium)
c) Since ZXA = 92X238 → A = 238 nucleons
d) Since N = A - Z → N = 238 - 92 = 146 neutrons
Atomic Particle Properties
Nuclear Particle Masses
Free Nucleon Properties
(Protons and Neutrons)
Binding Energy
Binding Energy per Nucleon vs. Mass Number
Problem 1 - Binding Energy per Nucleon for Iron-56 (26Fe56)
Calculate the binding energy and the binding energy per nucleon for 26Fe56, EB = ?
Hint: Use mp = 1.007276 u, mn = 1.008665 u, M(26Fe56) = 55.93494 u
Solution to Problem 1 - Binding Energy per Nucleon for Iron-56 (26Fe56)
Problem:
Calculate the binding energy and the binding energy per nucleon for 26Fe56, EB = ?
Hint: Use mp = 1.007276 u, mn = 1.008665 u, M(26Fe56) = 55.93494 u
Solution to Problem:
EB = ? Z = 26, A = 56, mp = 1.007276 u, mn = 1.008665 u, M(26Fe56) = 55.93494 u
EB = [Z·mp + (A - Z)·mn - M(26Fe56)]·c2
EB = [(26)·(1.007825 u) + (56 - 26)·(1.008665 u) - (55.93494 u)]·c2 = (0.52846 u)·c2
EB = (0.52846 u)·(931.5 MeV/c2) = 492.26 MeV (binding energy)
ε = EB/A = 492.26 MeV/56 = 8.79 MeV/nucleon (binding energy/nucleon)
The Nuclear Force
Strong Nuclear Interaction between Nucleons
Forces on Nucleons in the Nucleus
Radioactive Decay Processes
Radioactive Decay Processes
Alpha Decay and Beta Decay
Gamma Decay and Natural Radioactivity
Derivation of # Nuclei vs. Time
Graph of # Nuclei vs. Time
Radioactive Decay Summary
Radioactive Decay Rate (decays/second)
Problem 2 - Possible Radioactive Decay Reactions
Calculate whether or not the following radioactive decay reactions are possible or not:
Hint: Use mn = 1.008665 u, M(92U232) = 232.037156 u, M(92U233) = 233.039635 u
M(7N13) = 13.005739 u, M(7N14) = 14.003074 u, M(19K39) = 38.963707 u, M(19K40) =
39.963998
Solutions to Problem 2 - Possible Radioactive Decay Reactions
Problem:
Calculate whether or not the following radioactive decay reactions are possible or not:
Hint: Use mn = 1.008665 u, M(92U232) = 232.037156 u, M(92U233) = 233.039635 u
M(7N13) = 13.005739 u, M(7N14) = 14.003074 u, M(19K39) = 38.963707 u, M(19K40) =
39.963998
Solutions to Problem:
Nuclear Reactions
Nuclear Reactions
Question 3 - Nuclear Reactions
Fill in the missing particle(s) or nucleus:
Answers to Question 3 - Nuclear Reactions
Question:
Fill in the missing particle(s) or nucleus:
Answers to Question:
Nuclear Fission
U-235 Fission Induced by a Neutron
Nuclear Fission Multiplication Factor
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion
Deuterium-Tritium Fusion
Radioactive Decay Processes
Problem 3 - Nuclear Fission Reactor Power Consumption
Solution to Problem 3 - Nuclear Fission Reactor Power Consumption
Problem:
Solution to Problem:
Standard Model of Fundamental Particles and Interactions
Standard Model of Fundamental Particles and Interactions
Quark Properties Table
Fundamental Makeup of Nucleons
Four Fundamental Forces
Four Fundamental Forces Table
Weak Nuclear Force
SLAC Nuclear Fusion - SLAC Fusion Research (1 minute)
Nuclear Fusion Research at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
Fusion research at SLAC uses their x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) to do
controlled fusion reaction experiments to observe how matter behaves under
extreme temperature, pressure, and density conditions.
Visualizing the Nucleus - MIT - Visualizing the Nucleus (10 minutes)
Visualizing the Nucleus (MIT)
Physicists Rolf Ent from Jefferson Lab, Newport News, VA, and Richard Milner
from MIT, together with animator James LaPlante from Sputnik Animation,
Portland, ME, have created a 10 minute video that includes new animations of the
atomic nucleus.
For the first time, the sizes, shapes and structures of nuclei in the quantum realm
are visualized using animations and explained in the video. The work was made
possible by funding from Jefferson Lab.
PHET U-235 Fission Simulator - Fission of U-235 Nucleus PHET Simulation (1 minute)
PHET U-235 Fission Simulator
This PHET simulator can be used to visualize fission of a single U-235 nucleus or a
chain reaction of many nuclei by adjusting the menu and control panel
appropriately. In the fission of one nucleus, the nuclear energy of the system is
demonstrated as a function of the distance between the daughter nuclei.
Mousetrap Fission Chain Reaction Demo - Harvard - Mousetrap Fission Demo (3 minutes)
Mousetrap Fission Chain Reaction Demo - Harvard
This Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstration shows an array of 138 mouse
traps are set off in a chain reaction. Ping-pong balls help visualize neutron induced
fission reactions and the release of energy. Shot in 600 frames per second and 1000
frames per second.
Cloud Chamber - Harvard Science Demos - Cloud Chamber Demo (4 minutes)
Cloud Chamber - Harvard Science Demos
The trajectories of individual charged particles leave behind cloudy trails as they ionize the cooled, supersaturated
air-alcohol vapor inside this diffusion cloud chamber. Alpha particles from the radioactive decay of an inserted 2%
thorium alloy rod form dense condensation trails nearby. Farther from the rod (beyond 10 cm or so) various types of
charged particles leave evidence of their activity, including alpha particles (dense tracks, perhaps from the decay of radon
isotopes), muons and energetic electrons (faint, seemingly straight tracks), and relatively low-energy electrons and beta
particles (faint, tangled tracks). This movie shows a basic, qualitative demonstration of the presence of subatomic
particles; techniques to more accurately identify and measure individual subatomic particles are possible with this
apparatus. The cloud chamber was first developed by C.T.R. Wilson around the turn of the 20th century to study optical
phenomena associated with mist and clouds (he received the Nobel Prize in 1927). When charged particles ionize a
supersaturated vapor, a trail of ions is left in the path of the particles. The ions act as condensation nuclei for the alcohol
to condense on, and a thin line of fine droplets is formed in the path of each particle.
The range of the alpha particles from the thorium source is about 4 cm. As the alpha traverses its path, it slows down
gradually and becomes more heavily ionizing by virtue of the fact that it spends more time in the vicinity of air
molecules in its path. Evidence for this can be seen by observing that the tracks become denser with increasing distance
from the source.
Why is Earth’s Core so Hot? - Why is Earth's Core so Hot? (1 minute)
Why is Earth’s Core so Hot?
This short video explains that the temperature of the Earth’s core reaches 5400⁰ C
due to extreme pressure, radioactive decay, and residual heat from its formation.
For example, radioactive decay of Uranium in the Earth’s core has a half life of
approximately 4.5 billion years. Therefore, since Earth formed about 4.6 billion
years ago, heat is still being generated in its core due to radioactive decay.
References
● R.A. Serway and J.W. Jewett Jr: Physics for Scientists and
Engineers with Modern Physics, 10th Edition, Cengage, 2019
● Douglas C. Giancoli: Physics, Principles with Applications, 7th
Edition, Pearson, 2016
● MIT OpenCourseWare, Physics 2, Electricity and Magnetism,
Physics Demonstration Videos, Spring 2007, MIT OpenCourseWare
MIT Physics Technical Services Group Demonstrations
● Harvard Natural Science Lecture Demonstrations
Harvard Natural Science Lecture Demonstrations
Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations - YouTube
Channel