Nuclear Physics

Question 8:Figure 2 shows the conversion of energy that occurs from nuclear energy to electrical energy in a nuclear reactor.(a) How is nuclear energy produced in a reactor?(b) How is heat energy converted to kinetic energy in the rotation of a turbine?Explain your answer.(c) The kinetic energy from the turbine rotation can produce electrical energy.How … Read more

Question 6:In a nuclear reaction as shown in Figure 1, the total mass of the particles that are produced is less than the initial mass of the particles. The nuclear reaction experiences a mass defect. The lost mass is converted into energy.(a) Name the nuclear reaction and write the equation involved.(b) Calculate the mass defect … Read more

Question 4:During the formation of rocks, radioisotope uranium-238 is trapped. The decay rate of uranium-238 is low and the end result of the decay series is lead-206. Table 1 shows the composition of samples of rock A and rock B.(a) Between the samples of rock A and rock B, which one is older? Justify your … Read more

Question 1:What is meant by:(a) radioactive decay(b) half-life(c) nuclear energyAnswer:(a) A radioactive decay is a random and spontaneous process by which an unstable nucleus will decay by emitting radioactive radiation to become a more stable nucleus.(b) The half life, T½ is the time taken for a sample of radioactive nuclei to decay to half of … Read more

Question 1:What is meant by nuclear fission and nuclear fusion? Answer:Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei and releases a large amount of energy.Nuclear fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two small and light nuclei fuse to form a heavier nucleus while releasing … Read more

Question 1: Complete the radioactive decay equation. Identify A, B and C.(a) $$ { }_{88}^{228} \mathrm{Ra} \rightarrow A+{ }_{-1}^0 e $$(b) \begin{equation} { }_{84}^{209} \mathrm{Po} \rightarrow{ }_{82}^{205} \mathrm{~Pb}+B \end{equation}(c) \begin{equation} C \rightarrow{ }_1^1 p+{ }_{-1}^0 e \end{equation} Answer:(a) The general equation for β-decay is$$ \begin{aligned} 228 & =x+0 \\ x & =228 \end{aligned} $$$$ \begin{aligned} … Read more