Nuclear Energy King L1

Question 1

What are the four fundamental processes in nature?

Answer 1

1. Strong Nuclear - holds nucleus together
2. Electromagnetic - binds atoms and molecules forming ordinary matter
3. Weak Nuclear - produces instability in nuclei, responsible for β-decay.
4. Gravity

Question 2

What is radioactive decay?

Answer 2

A spontaneous process where unstable nucleus loses energy by emission of radiation (α,β particles, γ rays and neutrinos)

Question 3

What is the formula for the mass defficiency and binding energy?

Answer 3

Δm = Zmp + (A-Z) mn - mx.

Question 4

Alpha decay

Answer 4

When nucleus emits (4,2)He nucleus.
Occurs by tunnelling combined potential produced by strong nuclear force and electrostatic force.

Question 5

Beta decay

Answer 5

When nucleus emits an electron (e-) or positron (e+) with corresponding conversion of neutron to proton within nucleus.
- occur via weak nuclear interaction