PHYS 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 30: Unified Atomic Mass Unit, Mass Number, Charge Radius
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PHYS 102 Full Course Notes
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Nuclear physics is the study of atomic nuclei. Nuclei contain protons and neutrons, which are collectively known as nucleons. The total number of nucleons, , is the nucleus"s atomic mass number. Isotopes are nuclei with the same , but with different numbers of neutrons. The nuclear radius is approximately proportional to (cid:3117)(cid:3118), indicating that all nuclei have about the same density. Nuclear masses are specified in unified atomic mass units (u). The mass of a stable nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of its constituent nucleons. The difference in mass (times (cid:2870)) is the total binding energy. It represents the energy needed to break the nucleus into its constituent nucleons. The binding energy per nucleon averages about 8 mev per nucleon, and is lowest for low mass and high mass nuclei. Unstable nuclei undergo radioactive decay; they change into other nuclei with the emission of an (cid:2009), (cid:2010), or (cid:2011) particle.