17-IB Physics: Topic 7 – Atomic & Nuclear Physics – Flashcards
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Define nuclear binding energy
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The energy required to assemble / separate a nucleus from its constituent parts / into its individual component
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Define Unified mass unit
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1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 nucleus
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Define mass defect
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Difference between mass of nucleus and total mass of separate nucleons;
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State the Nature of an alpha particle
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the nucleus of He-4 / helium nucleus / two protons and two neutrons (bound together)
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Define half-life
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the time that must elapse for the initial activity of the radioactive sample; to be reduced by a factor of 2; or the time that must elapse for the initial number of radioactive nuclei; to be reduced by a factor of 2;
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State what is meant by a nucleon
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particles inside the nucleus: proton or neutron
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State what is meant by radioactive decay
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nucleus emits; an ?-particle / a ?-particle / and/or ?-ray photon / ionizing radiations;
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State what is meant by random decay
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cannot tell which nucleus will decay next; cannot state at what time a nucleus will decay;
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State what is meant by a nuclide
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an atom or a nucleus that is characterized by the constituents of its nucleus / a particular type of atom or nucleus; (in particular) by its proton (atomic) number and its nucleon number / number of protons and number of neutrons;
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State what is meant by an isotope
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nuclides that have the same proton number but different nucleon number / same number of protons different number of neutrons;
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Explain what is meant by ionizing
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electron(s) ejected from (neutral) atoms; to form positively and negatively charged particles;
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Define nucleon number, A
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number of nucleons (protons + neutrons) in nucleus
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Define proton number, Z
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number of protons in nucleus
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Define neutron number, N
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number of neutrons in nucleus (N = A - Z)
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Artificial (induced) transmutation
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When a nucleus is bombarded with a nucleon, an alpha particle or another small nucleus, resulting in a nuclide with a different proton number (a different element)
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Define binding energy per nucleon
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energy released per nucleon when a nuclide is assembled from its individual components (OR: energy required per nucleon when nucleus is separated into its individual components)
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Isotope
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Each of the 2 or more forms of the same element that contain equal # of protons, but different #'s of nuetrons in their nucleus.
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nucleon
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a particle found in the nucleus. examples include protons and neutrons
