Chapter 11
Nuclear Physics
Identify the nucleus or sample being described, distinguish detected counts from decays and keep each energy account complete.
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Evidence for the nucleus
Separate scattering observations from their inferences, then read nuclide, isotope and ion counts.
Count atoms, nuclei and nucleons
Use amount of substance, relative masses and a supplied molar mass to count the specified entities.
Alpha, beta and gamma
Compare emission nature, charge, ionisation, penetration and response to fields under stated conditions.
Random decay and measured counts
Distinguish activity from count rate, interpret fluctuations and use actual durations when correcting background.
Half-life and corrected curves
Use repeated halving, background-corrected graphs and a supplied fractional model with exponentials and logarithms.
Choose radiation for a task
Justify medical and industrial uses through half-life, penetration, ionisation and exposure context.
Balance nuclear processes
Account for nucleon number, charge and mass-energy in decays and a supplied bombardment reaction.
Mass defect and binding energy
Keep atomic and nuclear masses consistent and distinguish total binding energy from energy per nucleon.
Energy from fission and fusion
Interpret the binding-energy trend and compare complete initial and final accounts for balanced processes.