Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

OCR Physics A Level > 6.4 - Nuclear and Particle Physics > Flashcards

6.4 - Nuclear and Particle Physics Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Unified Atomic Mass Unit?

A

1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom. 1u = 1.661 x 10^-27kg

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the Proton Number?

A

The number of protons inside the nucleus of a particular atom. Also known as the atomic number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the Nucleon Number?

A

The number of nucleons (protons and neutrons) inside the nucleus of a particular atom. Also known as the Mass Number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is an Isotope?

A

Atoms of the same element which contain the same number of protons but can have varying numbers of neutrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the Strong Nuclear Force?

A

A force that acts between nucleons and holds the nucleus together against the electrostatic repulsion of the protons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are Fundamental Particles?

A

Particles that Connor be broken down into smaller components

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are Hadrons?

A

Particles consisting of a combination of quarks to give a net zero or whole number charge. Neutrons and protons are hadrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are Leptons?

A

Fundamental particles. Electrons and neutrinos are Leptons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are Quarks?

A

Components of hadrons, and have a fractional electric charge. They are believed to be fundamental particles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a Neutrino?

A

A fundamental particle (lepton) with almost no mass and zero charge. Each neutrino has an antimatter partner, called an antineutrino

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the Weak Nuclear Force?

A

A force felt by both quarks and leptons. It can change quarks from one type to another or leptons from one type to another and is responsible for beta decay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is an Antiparticle?

A

A particle of antimatter that has the same rest mass but (if charged) the equal and opposite charge to its corresponding particles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an Alpha Particle?

A

A particle comprising two protons and two neutrons ejected from the nucleus during radioactive decay. It is identical to a helium nucleus and is emitted due to its unusually high stability as a particle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a Beta Particle?

A

A high speed electron emitted from the nucleus during beta decay. It is produced when a neutron changes into a proton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a Gamma Ray?

A

A form of electromagnetic wave with wavelengths between 10^-16 and 10^-9m. Emitted from the nucleus during gamma decay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is Beta-Minus decay?

A

When a neutron breaks down into a proton under the influence of the weak nuclear force, and a beta-minus particle and antineutrino are emitted. A beta-minus particle is an electron

17
Q

What is Beta-Plus decay?

A

When a proton in the nucleus break down into a neutron under the influence of the weak nuclear force, and a beta-plus particle and neutrino are emitted. A beta-plus particle is a positron

18
Q

What is Activity?

A

The number of nuclear decays (the number of gamma rays emitted) per unit time. An activity of one decay per second is called one becquerel (Bq)

19
Q

What is the Decay Constant?

A

The probability that an individual nucleus will decay per unit time. Given by lambda = A/N where A is activity and N is number of undeclared nuclei

20
Q

What is Half Life?

A

The mean time taken for the activity of a source, or the number of undeclared nuclei present, to halve

21
Q

What is Carbon Dating?

A

A technique used to determine the age of organic matter from the relative proportions of the carbon-12 and carbon-14 isotopes that it contains, using the half life of carbon-14

22
Q

What is Annihilation?

A

The process in which a particle and its antiparticle interact and their combined mass is converted to energy via E=mc^2

23
Q

What is Pair Production?

A

The process of creating a particle-antiparticle pair from a high-energy photon

24
Q

What is Mass Defect?

A

The difference in mass between the mass of a nucleus and the total mass of its separate nucleons

25
Q

What is Binding Energy?

A

The minimum energy required to separate the nucleus into its constituent parts

26
Q

What is Induced Nuclear Fission?

A

It occurs when a nucleus absorbs slow-moving neutrons and the resulting unstable nucleus undergoes a fission reaction to split into two smaller nuclei and a small number of neutrons, releasing energy

27
Q

What is a Chain Reaction?

A

The sequence of nuclear reactions produced when an induced nuclear fission reaction triggers more than one further fission reaction

28
Q

What is a Control Rod?

A

A rod that can be lowered into the core of a nuclear reactor, absorb neutrons and slow he chain reaction. Control rods are usually made of boron

29
Q

What is a Moderator?

A

A substance used in a nuclear reactor which slows down neutrons so that they have a greater chance of being absorbed by the fissile nuclear fuel. They are usually made of graphite

OCR Physics A Level (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions