nuclear physics Flashcards
Binding energy?
The minimum energy needed to pull a nucleus of apart into its separate nucleons is known as the binding energy of the nucleus.
Mass defect?
The mass defect of the nucleus is equal to the difference between the total mass of the individual separate nucleons and the mass of the nucleus.
Nuclear fission??
The process in which a massive nucleus splits to form two smaller fragments.
Nuclear fusion??
The process by which two very light nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus.
Decay constant?
The probability that an individual nucleus will decay per unit time interval is called the decay constant.
Activity??
The activity of a radioactive sample is the rate at which nuclei decay.
Half life??
The half life of a radioisotope is the mean time taken for half of the active nuclei to decrease.
