24/1/2019

NUCLEAR PHYSICS
◼ CONCERN OURSELVES WITH
REACTIONS INVOLVING THE
NUCLEUS OF THE ATOM

1.1 Alpha Scattering Experiment

Provides evidence for the existence and structure
of the nucleus
Sulphide screen
Vacuum
chamber

Alpha source-
positively charged
helium ions
Gold foil

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Interpretation
◼ Observation:most alpha particles pass
through foil undeflected
◼ Result: much of atom is empty space
◼ Observation: some particles deflected at
an angle
◼ Result: positive particles repelled by some
positively charged object
◼ Observation: very few particles were
turned completely around
◼ Result: existence of a very heavy core

1.2 MODEL OF THE ATOM

NUCLEUS 10-15m ORBITING

ELECTRON
(charge –1e)

PROTON NEUTRON
(charge +1e) (no charge)-1800 times
-1800 times heavier heavier than electron
than electron
10-10m

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MODEL OF THE ATOM

◼ no. of protons = no. of electrons
(neutral atom)
◼ no. of protons > no. of electrons
(positive ion)
◼ no. of protons < no. of electrons
(negative ion)
◼ no. of protons need not equal no. of
neutrons

2. Nuclides Notation
Sum of protons and neutrons
- nucleon number (mass number)
Symbol of element

A eg. Na, Fe, H etc

Z X
No. of protons-
proton number

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2.2 Isotopes
◼ Elements with same no. of protons
but different no. of nucleons i.e.
different no. of neutrons
35
o Cl (17 p and 18 n) and 1377Cl (17 p and 20 n)
17

are the common isotopes of chlorine.

2 3
o Deuterium (1 H ) and tritium(1 H ) are both
1
isotopes of hydrogen(1 H ) .

Nuclear Reactions
14
7 N + 24He→178O+11H
◼ Proton number must be conserved
◼ Nucleon number must be conserved
◼ Mass-energy conservation

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N + 01n→11H +146C
14
7

He+13
4
2
27
Al →15
30
P +01n

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Nuclear Fission
◼ Heavy nuclides with high mass number
when bombarded with neutrons can
disintegrate into lighter nuclides,
releasing energy in the process

U +01n→36
235
92
92
Kr +141
56Ba +30 n + energy
1

Nuclear Fission

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Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fusion
◼ nuclei with low mass number
combine to form more stable nuclei
of higher mass number, releasing
energy in the process

3
1 H +12H →24He+01n + energy

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Nuclear Fusion