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Chapter 30

Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity

Book Version 3
By Boundless
Boundless Physics
Physics
by Boundless
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Section 1
The Nucleus
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Nuclear Size and Density

Nuclear size is defined by nuclear radius; nuclear density can be calculated from nuclear size.

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Nuclear Stability

The stability of an atom depends on the ratio and number of protons and neutrons, which may represent closed and filled quantum shells.

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Binding Energy and Nuclear Forces

Nuclear force is the force that is responsible for binding of protons and neutrons into atomic nuclei.

Section 2
Radioactivity
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Natural Radioactivity

Detectable amounts of radioactive material occurs naturally in soil, rocks, water, air, and vegetation.

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Radiation Detection

A radiation detector is a device used to detect, track, or identify high-energy particles.

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Radioactive Decay Series: Introduction

Radioactive decay series describe the decay of different discrete radioactive decay products as a chained series of transformations.

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Alpha Decay

In alpha decay an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle and transforms into an atom with smaller mass (by four) and atomic number (by two).

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Beta Decay

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted from an atomic nucleus.

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Gamma Decay

Gamma decay is a process of emission of gamma rays that accompanies other forms of radioactive decay, such as alpha and beta decay.

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Half-Life and Rate of Decay; Carbon-14 Dating

Carbon-14 dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the radioisotope carbon-14 (14C) to estimate the age of object.

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Calculations Involving Half-Life and Decay-Rates

The half-life of a radionuclide is the time taken for half the radionuclide's atoms to decay.

Section 3
Quantum Tunneling and Conservation Laws
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Quantum Tunneling

If an object lacks enough energy to pass through a barrier, it is possible for it to "tunnel" through imaginary space to the other side.

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Conservation of Nucleon Number and Other Laws

Through radioactive decay, nuclear fusion and nuclear fission, the number of nucleons (sum of protons and neutrons) is always held constant.

Section 4
Applications of Nuclear Physics
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Medical Imaging and Diagnostics

Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation to treat conditions such as hyperthyroidism, cancer, and blood disorders.

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Dosimetry

Radiation dosimetry is the measurement and calculation of the absorbed dose resulting from the exposure to ionizing radiation.

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Biological Effects of Radiation

Ionizing radiation is generally harmful, even potentially lethal, to living organisms.

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Therapeutic Uses of Radiation

Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation to treat conditions such as hyperthyroidism, cancer, and blood disorders.

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Radiation from Food

Food irradiation is a process of treating a food to a specific dosage of ionizing radiation for a predefined length of time.

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Tracers

A radioactive tracer is a chemical compound in which one or more atoms have been replaced by a radioisotope.

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Nuclear Fusion

In nuclear fusion two or more atomic nuclei collide at very high speed and join, forming a new nucleus.

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Nuclear Fission in Reactors

Nuclear reactors convert the thermal energy released from nuclear fission into electricity.

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Emission Topography

Positron emission tomography is a nuclear medical imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of processes in the body.

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Nuclear Weapons

A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions—either fission, fusion, or a combination.

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NMR and MRIs

Magnetic resonance imaging is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize internal structures of the body in detail.

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Atomic Physics
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Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity
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