Nuclei

Question 1

What is one atomic mass unit?

Answer 1

One atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12th of the total mass of carbon atom. 1.66 x 10^-27 kg

Question 2

What is a proton?

Answer 2

A proton is a fundamental charge particle having a positive charge of 1.6 x 10^-19 C. Its rest mass is 1.67 x 10^-27 kg.

Question 3

What is a neutron?

Answer 3

A neutron is a charge less fundamental particle having mass slightly greater than that of proton.

Question 4

What are Nucleons?

Answer 4

The protons and neutrons present together in the nucleus of an atom are collectively known as nucleons.

Question 5

What is Atomic number?

Answer 5

The number of protons present in nucleus of an atom is known as its atomic number.

Question 6

What is mass number?

Answer 6

The total number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an atom is called its mass number.

Question 7

What is a nuclide?

Answer 7

A nuclide is a specific nucleus of an atom characterized by its atomic number Z and mass Number A.

Question 8

Isobars

Answer 8

The nuclides with the same mass number but different atomic number are known as isobars.

Question 9

Isotones

Answer 9

The nuclides with the same number of neutrons but different atomic number are called isotones.

Question 10

Isotopes

Answer 10

The nuclides with the same number of protons (same atomic number) but different number of neutrons (different mass number) are called isotopes.

Question 11

Electron volt

Answer 11

The energy gained by an electron when it is accelerated under a potential difference of 1 volt.

Question 12

Mass Defect

Answer 12

The mass of the nucleus is always less than the total mass of the individual protons and neutrons. This difference in the mass the nucleus and its constituents is called the mass defect.

Question 13

Binding energy

Answer 13

The energy required to hold the neutrons and protons together in the nucleus is called the binding energy of the nucleus.

Question 14

Nuclear Fission

Answer 14

The phenomenon in which a heavy nucleus (>230) when excited splits into two smaller nuclei of comparable masses along with the liberation of energy is called nuclear fission.

Question 15

Nuclear fusion

Answer 15

The process in which two light nuclei combine at extremely high temperature to form a single heavy nucleus with the release of a large amount of energy is called nuclear fusion.