Nuclear Physics

Question 1

Proton number (or atomic number)

Answer 1

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Question 2

Nucleon number (or mass number)

Answer 2

The sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom

Question 3

Isotopes

Answer 3

Atoms of the same element with the same numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus

Question 4

Quantities conserved in nuclear decay

Answer 4

Nucleon (baryon number) number, Mass-energy, Lepton number, Charge, Linear momentum

Question 5

Activity

Answer 5

The rate of decay or disintegration of nuclei in a radioactive sample

Question 6

Decay constant

Answer 6

The probability of any particular atom of an isotope decaying per unit time

Question 7

Half-life

Answer 7

The mean time taken for half the number of active nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay

Question 8

Binding energy

Answer 8

The minimum external energy required to separate all the protons and neutrons in a nucleus

Question 9

Binding energy per nucleon

Answer 9

The minimum external energy per nucleon required to separate all the protons and neutrons in a nucleus

Question 10

Conservation of Lepton / Baryon number

Answer 10

The total Lepton / Baryon number before a nuclear change will equal the total Lepton / Baryon number after.