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Physics > Nuclear Physics > Flashcards

Nuclear Physics Flashcards

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1
Q

Potential energy and radius equation

A

Ep=Qq/4πrε

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2
Q

What is an advantage of using electron diffraction to measure radius?

A

They are not affected by the SNF as electrons are leptons

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3
Q

What is an advantage of using electron diffraction to measure radius?

A

They are not affected by the SNF as electrons are leptons

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4
Q

What are 2 disadvantages of using electron diffraction to measure radius?

A

-Difficult to measure 1st minimum of interference pattern
-Beams must be monoenergetic

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5
Q

How to estimate radius of an atom using electron diffraction?

A

Sinθ≈1.22λ/d

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6
Q

Equation linking radius and nucleon number

A

R=RoA^1/3

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7
Q

What is alpha stopped by?

A

Paper

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8
Q

What is beta minus stopped by?

A

Aluminium

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9
Q

What is beta plus stopped by?

A

Electron

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10
Q

What is gamma stopped by?

A

Lead/steel

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11
Q

Alpha range in air

A

2-5 cm

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12
Q

Beta minus range

A

1m

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13
Q

Beta plus range

A

0m

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14
Q

Gamma range

A

Infinite

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15
Q

Name 4 sources of background radiation

A

Radon gas
Cosmic rays
X-rays in hospitals (medicine)
Nuclear power

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16
Q

What is meant by the random nature of decay?

A

You cannot predict which nuclei will decay next
But the same proportion decay each second

17
Q

Mass and moles equation

A

Mass= moles x molar mass

18
Q

How to calculate number of atoms using moles

A

N=nNa

19
Q

Define decay constant

A

The probability of decay per unit time

20
Q

Why is it difficult to determine a reliable age using carbon dating?

A

-Activity may be hard to distinguish from background radiation
-Source may be contaminated by external sources

21
Q

Half life equation

A

T1/2=ln(2)/λ

22
Q

What decay occurs when there are too many neutrons?

A

Beta minus

23
Q

What decay occurs when there are too many protons?

A

Beta plus
Or electron capture

24
Q

What decay occurs when there’s too much mass?

A

Alpha

25
Q

What decay occurs when there is too much energy?

A

Gamma

26
Q

What is the mass defect?

A

The difference between the mass of a nucleus and the mass of its individual constituents

27
Q

What is the binding energy?

A

The energy needed to separate a nucleus into its individual constituents

28
Q

Neutron number against proton number graph

A

Straight line until (20,20)
Then curved up to (80,120)

29
Q

What is nuclear fusion and how is energy released?

A

-2 nuclei combine to form a large nucleus
-The binding energy per nucleon of the final nucleus is higher than for the original nuclei
-The binding energy has not gone into extra energy is released

30
Q

What is nuclear fission and how is energy released?

A

-A nucleus is split into 2 daughter nuclei
-The binding energy of the daughter nuclei is higher than the original
-The mass defect per nucleon is higher
-Extra mass is released as energy

31
Q

Why is nuclear fusion harder to initiate than nuclear fission?

A

The electrostatic force makes it hard to get the nuclei close enough for the SNF to work.
So more kinetic energy is needed.

32
Q

Why might is be preferable to use fusion rather than fission?

A

-Fuel for fusion is more abundant.
-Products produced from fusion are not radioactive.

33
Q

How must fuel waste be treated when it’s removed from the reactor?

A

-Place in cooling ponds for a year.
-Should be handled remotely.
-Place in steel containers.
-Place the containers deep underground in geologically stable places

34
Q

How do the control rods work?

A

They are lowered into the reactor
They absorb neutrons
This stops them moving inbetween fuel rods

Control rods can be lowered slightly to slow the reaction reducing power output
Can be lowered completely to stop reaction

35
Q

How does the coolant work?

A

-This removes some of the heat produced by fission.
-Typically water

36
Q

How does the moderator work?

A

-Fuel rods are placed in the moderator
-The neutrons collide with the moderator molecules.
- This slows them down and they reach thermal equilibrium with the molecules
-Only slow neutrons can be absorbed by U-235

37
Q

What’s the main source of highly radioactive waste from a nuclear reactor?

A

Daughter nuclei

Physics (11 decks)

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