Lecture 2 Flashcards
What is the optimal ratio of protons to neutrons for a stable nuclei
- around 1
- Goes up to 1.5 with increasing A
If there are too many protons what radiation occurs
- Positron emission
- Increase ratio n/p
- Proton–> neutron + Beta+ + momentum
If there are too many neutrons what radiation occurs
- Beta- decay
- Decreases ratio n/p
- Converts neutron to proton and e-
What is mass defect
- Mass defect is the difference between the actual atomic mass and the predicted mass calculated by adding the mass of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus.
- The actual atomic mass is slightly less than the predicted mass calculated by adding the masses of nucleons.
- The missing mass is called the mass defect
- 𝚫M = mass of nucleons – mass of nucleus
What is an explanation for the mass defect
- The additional mass is accounted for by binding energy that is released when a nucleus is formed.
- When a nucleus is formed, some of the mass is converted to energy and this results in the mass defect.
- Due to this reason, the actual mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the mass of particles it is made up of.
What is Einstein equation for nuclear binding energy
- 𝚫E = (m nucleus - Zmproton - (A-Z)mneutron)c^2
- (A-Z)mneutron) = number of neutrons * mass of neutrons
What is a simpler way of finding nuclear binding energy
- 𝚫E= 𝚫m(in a.m.u) * 931.5 MeV
- 𝚫E= 𝚫m(in a.m.u) * 8.987*10^10 kJmol^-1
What is it important to remember when calculating nuclear binding energy
- Ensure e- mass are included on both sides of the equation or on neither
What radiation leads to the most stable particle
- Alpha radiation leads to the most stable particle- alpha particle
- But it only changes n/p when n/p>1 and leads to an increase of n/p
- Typical for heavy elements - ideal ratio goes up to 1.5
What is the nuclear binding energy per nucleon
- 𝚫E/A
- 𝚫E = binding energy
- A = number of nucleons
- Allows the comparison of the stability of different nuclei
What element has the most binding energy/nucleon
- Iron
- Lighter nuclei have too few nucleons
- Heavier nuclei have too many
What is fission
- Breaking large atoms
- Releases energy as you increase binding energy
- Breaking atoms releases energy
- Binding energy released as thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation
What is fusion
- Combining small atoms
- Energy production in sun
- The process releases energy because the total mass of the resulting single nucleus is less than the mass of the two original nuclei
- Releases more energy than fission
Are even or odd numbers of neutrons and protons preferred
- Even numbers of protons and neutrons are preferred
- 60% of all stable nuclei have even/even P/N numbers
- 20% have even/odd or odd/even P/N numbers
- only 4 nuclei 1% have stable odd/odd combinations - small elements
Which 4 nuclei have stable odd/odd P/N numbers
- 2H
- 6Li
- 10B
- 14N
- after small elements odd/odd = radioactive
What are other point of increased stability
- Additional islands of increased stability around magic numbers of protons or neutrons
- 2 He
- 8 O
- 20 Ca
- 28 Ni
- 50 Sn
- 82 Pb
What is the last stable element
- Bi
- Are radioactive and decay becomes increasingly fast beyond uranium
What are the forces that hold the nucleus together
- Strong interaction
- Electromagnetic force
- Weak interaction
- Gravity
Describe strong interaction
- Strength- 1
- Range 10^-15 - diameter of medium sized nucleus
- particle- glucons, pi(nucleons)
- The strong force is ‘felt’ between nucleons (protons and neutrons) inside of the nucleus of an atom.
- This force is strong enough that it overcomes the repulsive force between the two positively charged protons, allowing protons and neutrons to stick together in an unimaginably small space.
Describe electromagnetic force
- Strength- 1/137
- Range - infinite
- particle- protons, mass=0, spin=1
Describe weak interactions
- Strength- 10^-6
- Range 10^-18m diameter of a proton
- particle- intermediate vector bosons W+, W-, Z0
Describe Gravity
1.Strength- 6*10^-39 (weakest interaction)
2. Range infinite
3. particle- graviton, mass=0, spin=2
What is a quark
- Protons and neutrons are made up of three quarks held together by the strong force