Nuclear Physics

Overview

Nuclear Physics studies the structure, properties, and stability of atomic nuclei. It explains:

• what nuclei are made of
• why some nuclei are stable while others decay
• how mass can be converted into energy
• why energy is released in Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion

This topic builds naturally from Atomic Structure and links to Radioactive Decay.

Core Ideas

• nuclei contain protons and neutrons
• proton number, nucleon number, and neutron number describe nuclear composition
• isotopes have the same proton number but different neutron number
• nuclei are tiny, dense, and held together by the strong nuclear force
• nuclear mass is less than the sum of the separate nucleon masses
• mass defect corresponds to binding energy
• binding energy per nucleon is a key measure of stability

Atom vs Nucleus

Atom

An atom consists of:

• a tiny central nucleus
• electrons surrounding the nucleus

Most of the atom’s volume is empty space.

Nucleus

The nucleus:

• contains almost all the mass of the atom
• is positively charged
• is extremely small compared with the atom

Typical sizes:

• atomic radius: $\sim 10^{-10}\text{m}$
• nuclear radius: $\sim 10^{-15}\text{m}$

So the nucleus is about $10^5$ times smaller in radius than the atom.

Nuclear Composition

The nucleus contains nucleons:

• protons
• neutrons

Key Numbers

• proton number: $Z$
• nucleon number, mass number: $A$
• neutron number: $N$

$$N=A-Z$$

Meaning

• $Z$ determines the element
• different $N$ gives different isotopes
• $A$ counts total nucleons

Nuclide Notation

A nuclide is written as:

$${}_Z^{A}X$$

where:

• $X$ = chemical symbol
• $A$ = nucleon number
• $Z$ = proton number

Example:

$${}_6^{14}\text{C}$$

• protons = 6
• neutrons = 8

Isotopes

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with:

• same proton number $Z$
• different neutron number $N$

Examples:

$${}_6^{12}\text{C},{}_6^{13}\text{C},{}_6^{14}\text{C}$$

Important Notes

• same chemical behaviour if neutral
• different nuclear properties
• different masses
• some isotopes are radioactive

Nuclear Size and Density

Radius Relationship

Approximate nuclear radius:

$$R=R_0{A}^{1/3}$$

where:

$$R_0\approx 1.2\times 10^{-15}\text{m}$$

Implications

• larger nuclei have larger radius
• nuclear volume is proportional to $A$
• since mass is also roughly proportional to $A$, nuclear density is approximately constant for all nuclei

Nuclear density is very high compared with ordinary matter.

Strong Nuclear Force

Protons repel each other electrically, so another force must hold nuclei together.

Strong Nuclear Force

• attractive between nucleons
• very strong at short distances
• acts over very short range only
• stronger than electrostatic repulsion at nuclear distances

Consequence

Without the strong nuclear force, nuclei would fly apart.

Mass Defect Overview

The mass of a nucleus is less than the total mass of its separate nucleons.

This missing mass is the mass defect.

$$\Delta m=(\text{sum of separate nucleon masses})-(\text{nuclear mass})$$

This missing mass has been converted into binding energy.

See Mass Defect and Binding Energy.

Binding Energy Overview

Binding energy is the minimum energy needed to separate a nucleus completely into free nucleons.

Using Einstein’s relation:

$$E=\Delta m{c}^2$$

So:

$$\text{binding energy}=\Delta m{c}^2$$

Meaning

Larger binding energy generally means a more tightly bound nucleus.

Binding Energy per Nucleon Overview

$$\text{binding energy per nucleon}=\frac{\text{binding energy}}{A}$$

This is a better measure of nuclear stability than total binding energy.

Why

A heavy nucleus may have a large total binding energy simply because it contains many nucleons.

Binding energy per nucleon compares how tightly each nucleon is bound on average.

Stability Overview

Trend

Binding energy per nucleon:

• increases rapidly for light nuclei
• peaks around the iron / nickel region
• decreases gradually for very heavy nuclei

Interpretation

• nuclei near the peak are the most stable
• very heavy nuclei may release energy by fission
• very light nuclei may release energy by fusion

This explains energy release in:

• Nuclear Fission
• Nuclear Fusion

Link to Radioactive Decay

Some nuclei are unstable and decay spontaneously.

Examples include emission of:

• alpha particles
• beta particles
• gamma radiation

See Radioactive Decay.

Short Worked Examples

Example 1: Neutron Number

For:

$${}_{13}^{27}\text{Al}$$ $$N=A-Z=27-13=14$$

Example 2: Identify Isotopes

Are ${}_{17}^{35}\text{Cl}$ and ${}_{17}^{37}\text{Cl}$ isotopes?

Yes.

• same $Z=17$
• different $A$

Example 3: Compare Stability

If nucleus X has higher binding energy per nucleon than nucleus Y:

• X is generally more stable

Exam Relevance

Students should be able to:

• interpret nuclide notation correctly
• distinguish isotopes from ions
• explain the role of the strong nuclear force qualitatively
• relate mass defect to binding energy
• use binding energy per nucleon to discuss stability and energy release

Formula Sheet

Nuclear Composition

$$N=A-Z$$

Radius

$$R=R_0{A}^{1/3}$$

Mass-Energy

$$E=\Delta m{c}^2$$

Binding Energy per Nucleon

$$\frac{\text{binding energy}}{A}$$

Common Exam Traps Overview

Students often confuse:

• $A$ with $Z$
• atom mass with nucleus mass
• total binding energy with binding energy per nucleon
• larger nucleus with more stable nucleus
• isotope with ion

See Nuclear Physics Common Exam Traps.

Quick Revision Summary

• nucleus contains protons and neutrons
• $Z$ = protons, $A$ = total nucleons
• $N=A-Z$
• isotopes have same $Z$, different $N$
• strong nuclear force binds nucleons
• nuclear mass is less than the sum of separate nucleons
• missing mass gives binding energy
• stability depends strongly on binding energy per nucleon

Links

• Atomic Structure
• Quantum Physics
• Mass Defect and Binding Energy
• Radioactive Decay
• Nuclear Fission
• Nuclear Fusion
• Nuclear Physics Common Exam Traps

Provenance

• source file: 1_PDFsam_20_Nuclear-Physics.pdf
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