9478 / 2027

Chapter 20

Nuclear Physics

Identify the nucleus or sample being described, distinguish detected counts from decays and keep each energy account complete.

Interpret nuclear evidence, calculate the relevant counts and energy changes, and justify radiation properties for a stated application.

Nuclear structure, radiation and background, exponential decay and data fitting, applications, nuclear equations, beta-decay evidence, mass defect, binding energy, fission and fusion. For 9478 (2027).

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  1. Evidence for the nucleus

    Separate scattering observations from their inferences, then read nuclide, isotope and ion counts.

  2. Alpha, beta and gamma

    Compare emission nature, charge, ionisation, penetration and response to fields under stated conditions.

  3. Random decay and measured counts

    Distinguish activity from count rate, interpret fluctuations and use actual durations when correcting background.

  4. Half-life and corrected curves

    Infer exponential-shaped trends and use repeated halving with the correct background-corrected quantity.

  5. Exponential decay and data

    Relate activity to population and decay constant, then process counts and fit a valid logarithmic model.

  6. Choose radiation for a task

    Justify medical and industrial uses through half-life, penetration, ionisation and exposure context.

  7. Balance nuclear processes

    Account for nucleon number, charge and mass-energy in decays and a supplied bombardment reaction.

  8. Missing energy and momentum

    Use the beta energy spectrum and momentum closure to infer an additional neutral carrier.

  9. Mass defect and binding energy

    Keep atomic and nuclear masses consistent and distinguish total binding energy from energy per nucleon.

  10. Energy from fission and fusion

    Interpret the binding-energy trend and compare complete initial and final accounts for balanced processes.