Physics Topic: Nuclear Physics

  1. infer from the results of the Rutherford α-particle scattering experiment the existence and small size of the atomic nucleus

  2. distinguish between nucleon number (mass number) and proton number (atomic number)

  3. show an understanding that an element can exist in various isotopic forms, each with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus, and use the nuclide notation for the representation of nuclides

  4. show an understanding of the spontaneous and random nature of nuclear decay

  5. Infer the random nature of radioactive decay from the fluctuations in count rate

  6. show an understanding of the origin and significance of background radiation

  7. show an understanding of the nature and properties of α, β and γ radiations (knowledge of positron emission is not required)

  8. define the terms activity and decay constant and recall and solve problems using the equation A = λN

  9. infer and sketch the exponential nature of radioactive decay and solve problems using the relationship x = x0 e–λt where x could represent activity, number of undecayed particles or received count rate

  10. define and use half-life as the time taken for a quantity x to reduce to half its initial value

  11. solve problems using the relation λ = ln 2 / t1/2

  12. discuss qualitatively the applications (e.g. medical and industrial uses) and hazards of radioactivity based on: (i) half-life of radioactive materials (ii) penetrating abilities and ionising effects of radioactive emissions

  13. represent simple nuclear reactions by nuclear equations

  14. state and apply to problem solving the concept that nucleon number, charge and mass-energy are all conserved in nuclear processes

  15. show an understanding of how the conservation laws for energy and momentum in β decay were used to predict the existence of the (anti)neutrino (knowledge of the antineutrino and the zoo of particles is
    not required)

  16. show an understanding of the concept of mass defect

  17. recall and apply the equivalence between energy and mass as represented by E = mc2 to solve problems

  18. show an understanding of the concept of nuclear binding energy and its relation to mass defect

  19. sketch the variation of binding energy per nucleon with nucleon number

  20. explain the relevance of binding energy per nucleon to nuclear fusion and to nuclear fission.