Reference Tools & Resources
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Chapter 32: Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Radiation Reference Tools & Resources |
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Reference Tools & Resources
I. Key Terms and Phrases
nucleon: either a proton or a neutron in the nucleus.
atomic number: the number of protons in a nucleus.
neutron number: the number of neutrons in a nucleus.
mass number: the number of nucleons in a nucleus.
isotopes: the nuclei with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
atomic mass unit: a unit of mass, u, commonly used for atoms and nuclei: 1 u = 1.660540 x 10-27 kg.
fermi: a unit of distance, fm, commonly used in atomic and nuclear physics: 1 fm = 10-15 m.
strong nuclear force: one of the fundamental forces of nature that is responsible for holding nuclei together.
radioactivity: the high-energy emissions from nuclear decay due to a nucleus either being unstable or undergoing a transition from an excited state to a lower-energy state.
activity: the rate at which nuclear decay occurs.
curie: a common unit of measure for activity: 1 Ci = 3.7 x 1010 decays/s.
half-life: the time required for the number of radioactive nuclei to reduce by half.
binding energy: the amount of energy that must be added to a nucleus to break it apart into its constituent nucleons.
nuclear fission: when a nucleus breaks apart into smaller nuclei.
nuclear fusion: when light nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus.
elementary particles: the fundamental particles out of which matter is made.
weak nuclear force: a fundamental force of nature important in radioactive decay.
leptons: elementary particles that experience the weak force but not the strong force.
hadrons: particles that experience both the weak and strong nuclear forces and are made up of quarks.
quarks: fundamental particles that make up hadrons.
unified force: the single force of nature believed to be at work at the beginning of the universe.
gravity waves: waves of space and time predicted by Einstein's theory of gravity.
II. Important Equations
| Name/Topic | Equation | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| An empirical estimate of the radius of a nucleus. | ||
| The time dependence of the number of radioactive nuclei. |
III. Know Your Units
| Quantity | Dimension | SI Unit |
|---|---|---|
neutron number (N) mass number (A) |
dimensionless |
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IV. Miscellaneous Tips
When it comes to the biological effects of radiation the SI units are less familiar than those mentioned in the textbook. Nevertheless, you should be aware of what they are. For the absorbed dose of radiation the SI unit is the gray (Gy): 1 Gy = 1J/kg. For the biologically equivalent dose, the SI unit is the sievert (Sv): 1 Sv = 100 rem. These two units, the gray and the sievert, are referred to in the "know your units" table.
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