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NUCLEAR PHYSICS
▢ Nucleus:
Table 1: Basic Nuclear Facts
Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
Charge of nucleus | Positive |
Constituents | Protons + neutrons |
Collective name | Nucleons |
Nuclear radius order | |
Atomic radius order | |
Atomic number | |
Mass number | |
Number of neutrons | |
Neutral atom |
▢ Nuclear Size:
Table 1: Nuclear Radius
Quantity | Formula / Value |
|---|---|
Radius of nucleus | |
Nuclear radius constant | |
1 fermi | |
Radius relation | |
Graph |
❖ Important Point: Nuclei of different elements have different sizes
▢ Nuclear Density:
Table 1: Nuclear Density Formulae
Quantity | Formula / Value |
|---|---|
Density | |
Using radius | |
Result | |
Dependence on mass number | |
Value | |
Order |
❖ Important Point: Nuclear density is nearly same for all nuclei
▢ Atomic Mass Unit:
❖ Definition:
Table 1: Atomic Mass Unit
Quantity | Value |
|---|---|
1 amu | |
1 amu | |
Energy from mass defect in amu | |
Energy from mass defect in kg |
▢ Types of Nuclei:
Table 1: Isotopes, Isobars, Isotones and Isodiaphers
Type | Same | Different | Example / Point |
|---|---|---|---|
Isotopes | |||
Isobars | Different elements | ||
Isotones | Atomic and mass number | ||
Isodiaphers | Difference between neutrons and protons | Atomic and mass number |
❖ Isotope Average Atomic Mass:
▢ Forces Between Nucleons:
Table 1: Nuclear Forces
Force | Feature |
|---|---|
Electrostatic Coulomb force | Exists between protons |
Electrostatic effect | Causes repulsion between protons and nuclear instability |
Nuclear force | Exists between any two nucleons |
Strength | Strongest known force in nature |
Charge dependence | Independent of charge |
Range | Very short range, few fermi |
Nature | Attractive at short range |
Inverse square law | Not obeyed |
Saturation | Saturable force |
Dependence | Depends on spin / angular momentum of nuclei |
Direction | Non-central force |
❖ Stability Points:
- •Nucleus is more stable when number of protons equals number of neutrons
- •Even number of protons and even number of neutrons → more stable
- •Magic numbers: 2, 8, 14, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126
▢ Mass Defect:
❖ Definition: Difference between sum of masses of constituent nucleons and actual mass of nucleus
Table 1: Mass Defect Formulae
Quantity | Formula |
|---|---|
Mass defect | |
Packing fraction | |
Alternative packing fraction |
❖ Note: Actual mass of nucleus is always less than sum of masses of constituent particles
▢ Binding Energy:
❖ Definition: Energy equivalent of mass defect of nucleus; energy binding the nucleus
Table 1: Binding Energy Formulae
Quantity | Formula |
|---|---|
Binding energy per nucleon |
❖ Binding Energy Curve:
- •Binding energy per nucleon rises sharply first
- •
- •After iron, curve falls slowly
- •Medium nuclei are very stable
- •Heavy nuclei are unstable and tend to split into medium nuclei
❖ Important Point: Binding energy per nucleon is a measure of nuclear stability
▢ Nuclear Fission:
❖ Definition: Splitting of a heavy nucleus into two or more lighter nuclei with release of large energy
❖ Condition:
❖ Discovered By: Hahn and Strassmann
Table 1: Uranium Fission
Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
Common fission nucleus | |
Bombarding particle | Thermal neutron |
Products | Barium + krypton + neutrons + energy |
Reaction | |
Mass defect | |
Energy per fission | |
Energy per fission in joule | |
Natural uranium |
❖ Conservation Laws:
- •Linear momentum conserved
- •Total energy conserved
- •Charge conserved
- •Number of nucleons conserved
❖ Reason: Fission occurs because binding energy per nucleon of medium nuclei is greater than that of heavy nuclei
▢ Chain Reaction:
❖ Definition: Continuous fission reaction maintained by secondary neutrons
Table 1: Chain Reaction
Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
Secondary neutrons | Neutrons produced during fission causing further fission |
Critical mass | Minimum mass of fissile material required for chain reaction |
Uncontrolled chain reaction | Principle of atom bomb |
Controlled chain reaction | Principle of nuclear reactor |
▢ Nuclear Reactor:
❖ Definition: Device in which nuclear energy produced by controlled chain reaction is used for constructive purposes
Table 1: Nuclear Reactor Components
Component | Function | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Nuclear fuel | Provides fissionable material | |
Moderator | Slows down highly energetic neutrons | Heavy water, graphite, beryllium, paraffin |
Control rods | Absorb excess neutrons and control chain reaction | Cadmium rods, boron rods |
Neutron reflector | Prevents leakage of neutrons | Reflecting material |
Coolant | Removes heat evolved in reactor core |
❖ Best Moderator: Heavy water
❖ Best Nuclear Fuel:
▢ Neutron Types:
Table 1: Neutrons by Energy
Type | Energy |
|---|---|
Slow neutrons | < 1 eV |
Thermal neutrons | 1 to 1.2 eV |
Fast neutrons | > 1.2 eV |
❖ Important Point: Neutrons are unaffected by electric field and are more effective than protons for nuclear reactions
▢ Nuclear Fusion:
❖ Definition: Fusion of two or more lighter nuclei to form a single heavier nucleus with release of energy
Table 1: Fusion Facts
Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
Temperature required | |
Also called | Thermonuclear reaction |
Reason for high temperature | High kinetic energy needed to overcome electrostatic repulsion |
Mass of product nucleus | Slightly less than sum of reacting nuclei |
Energy released | |
Mass converted into energy | About 1% |
Compared with fission | Fusion releases more energy per unit mass |
❖ Sample Reactions:
- •
- •
- •
❖ Hydrogen Bomb: Based on nuclear fusion
▢ Stellar Energy:
❖ Source: Solar / stellar energy is due to fusion of hydrogen into helium
❖ Star Matter: Hydrogen and helium together form about 99% by weight of star matter
Table 1: Thermonuclear Cycles
Cycle | Main Condition | Net Result |
|---|---|---|
Proton-proton cycle | Dominant in stars with temperature less than sun | Four hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium |
Carbon-nitrogen cycle | Dominant in hotter stars | Carbon acts as catalyst; hydrogen converts to helium |
❖ Proton-Proton Cycle:
❖ Carbon-Nitrogen Cycle:
▢ Particle Antiparticle Pairs:
Table 1: Particle-Antiparticle Pairs
Particle | Antiparticle |
|---|---|
Electron | Positron |
Proton | Antiproton |
Neutron | Antineutron |
Neutrino | Antineutrino |
❖ Pair Production:
❖ Annihilation: When particle and antiparticle annihilate, mass converts into energy
▢ Quark Combination:
Table 1: Quark Composition
Combination | Particle | Charge |
|---|---|---|
Proton | +1 | |
Neutron | 0 | |
Antiproton | -1 | |
Antineutron | 0 | |
0 | ||
+1 | ||
-1 |
▢ Nuclear Decay:
Table 1: Decay Modes
Decay | Equation | Change |
|---|---|---|
K-capture | Nucleus captures orbital electron |
❖ Neutron Decay:
❖ Proton Conversion in Positron Decay:
▢ Isoelectronic, Isoster and Isolobel:
Table 1: Extra Terms
Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
Isoelectronic | Same number of electrons | |
Isoster | Both isoelectronic and isoatomic | |
Isolobel | Same geometry and hybridization |
▢ Read and Digest:
Table 1: Important Points
Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
Nucleus discovered by | Rutherford |
Proton discovered by | Goldstein |
Neutron discovered by | Chadwick |
Nuclear holocaust | Large-scale destruction due to nuclear weapons |
1 amu | 931 MeV |
Heavy water | Best moderator |
Solar energy source | Nuclear fusion |
Hydrogen bomb | Based on nuclear fusion |
Atom bomb | Based on uncontrolled nuclear fission |
Nuclear reactor | Based on controlled nuclear fission |
Critical mass | Minimum mass needed for chain reaction |
Average binding energy per nucleon | About 8 MeV |
Maximum binding energy per nucleon | For iron |
Nuclear density order | |
Binding energy | Measure of nuclear stability |
Cosmic rays | Mainly protons at top of atmosphere |
Meson mass | |
Fermions | Half-integral spin particles constituting matter |
Neutrino | No charge, spin present, very small/no mass |
Positron | Antiparticle of electron with same mass and opposite charge |
Fusion condition | High temperature and high pressure |
Fission product mass | Less than parent nucleus mass |
In fusion | Binding energy per nucleon increases |
▢ Objective Answer Key:
Table 1: Nuclear Physics MCQ Answers
Q | Ans |
|---|---|
1 | c |
2 | a |
3 | a |
4 | c |
5 | a |
6 | a |
7 | b |
8 | b |
9 | a |
10 | a |
11 | c |
12 | b |
13 | b |
14 | c |
15 | d |
16 | d |
17 | c |
18 | b |
19 | b |
20 | c |
21 | d |
22 | b |
23 | c |
24 | d |
25 | a |
26 | b |
27 | d |
28 | a |
29 | c |
30 | d |
31 | b |
32 | b |
33 | c |
34 | d |
35 | a |
36 | b |
37 | b |
38 | d |
39 | a |
40 | c |
41 | a |
42 | b |
43 | c |
44 | d |
45 | b |
46 | b |
47 | c |
48 | d |
49 | a |
50 | c |
51 | c |
52 | c |
53 | a |
54 | c |
55 | a |
56 | b |
57 | b |
▢ High-Yield Recall:
Table 1: Nuclear Physics One-Liners
Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
Nucleons | Protons + neutrons |
Atomic number | |
Mass number | |
Neutrons | |
Nuclear radius | |
Nuclear density | |
1 amu | |
Isotopes | |
Isobars | |
Isotones | Same neutrons |
Isodiaphers | |
Mass defect | |
Binding energy | |
BE per nucleon | |
Most stable nucleus region | Iron region |
Fission | Heavy nucleus → lighter nuclei |
Fusion | Light nuclei → heavier nucleus |
About 200 MeV | |
Critical mass | Minimum mass for chain reaction |
Moderator | Slows down neutrons |
Control rod | Absorbs excess neutrons |
Best moderator | Heavy water |
Best nuclear fuel | |
Nuclear reactor | Controlled fission |
Atom bomb | Uncontrolled fission |
Hydrogen bomb | Fusion |
Solar energy | Fusion of hydrogen into helium |
Pair production threshold | |
Proton quark combination | |
Neutron quark combination | |
Alpha decay | |
Beta minus decay | |
Beta plus decay | |
Gamma decay | |
K-capture | Orbital electron captured by nucleus |
Q1.
Nuclear density varies with atomic mass number A as
📅CEE MBBS 2025
Q2.
Force binding proton and neutron in nucleus is
📅CEE MBBS 2025
Q3.
To undergo fusion reaction the required condition is:
📅CEE Nursing 2024
Q4.
Nuclear reactor is based on:
📅CEE MBBS 2024B
Q5.
In nuclear reactor, graphite is used:
📅CEE MBBS 2024B
Q6.
Nuclear fission is initiated by:
📅CEE MBBS 2024a
Q7.
Two nuclei have their mass numbers in the ratio 1:3. The ratio of their nuclear densities is:
📅CEE MBBS 2023
Q8.
Which statement about nuclear force is true?
📅CEE MBBS 2022
Q9.
In nuclear reactor, graphite is used primarily for:
📅CEE BDS 2024
Q10.
The fuel used in the nuclear reactor is:
📅CEE BDS 2024
Q11.
The source of energy in star is:
📅CEE BDS 2023
Q12.
📅MOE 2012 & 2013
Q13.
📅MOE 2068
Q14.
📅MOE 2010
Q15.
📅MOE 2009
Q16.
The fusion of hydrogen into helium is more likely to take place:
📅KU 2011/2017
Q17.
Which nuclear process is the principal energy source of the Sun?
📅KU 2010
Q18.
Positron has
📅KU 2010
Q19.
The quark combination of proton is
📅KU 2010
Q20.
📅BP 2012
Q21.
The average distance between nucleus & electron is
📅BP 2012
Q22.
Which of the following has similar mass to electron?
📅T.E. 2009
Q23.
The minimum energy needed to ionize a hydrogen atom from its ground state is:
📅I.E. 2009
Q24.
📅I.E. 2009
Q25.
In the net conversion of hydrogen to helium in ordinary stellar fusion, approximately what percentage of the initial mass becomes energy?
📅I.E. 2009
Q26.
📅I.E. 2013
Q27.
📅I.E. 2010
Q28.
The neutron possesses
📅I.E. 2010
Q29.
The energy released in the fission of one nucleus is 200 MeV. The number of fissions per second required to produce 3.2 W of power is
📅I.E. 2010
Q30.
Which particle occupies the surrounding electronic cloud of an atom?
📅I.E. 2012
Q31.
Which particles are called nucleons?
📅I.E. 2012
Q32.
In nuclear reactor, cadmium rod is used as
📅BP 2014
Q33.
📅BP 2014
Q34.
📅BP 2014
Q35.
The mass defect for the nucleus of helium is 0.0303 amu. What is the binding energy per nucleon for helium in MeV?
📅BP 2014
Q36.
📅BP 2014
Q37.
📅BP 2014
Q38.
📅BP 2014
Q39.
📅BP 2014
Q40.
📅BP 2014
Q41.
📅BP 2014
Q42.
📅BP 2014
Q43.
A nucleus at rest splits into two fragments whose speeds have the ratio 2:1. Assuming nuclear radii scale as the cube root of fragment mass numbers, what is the ratio of their radii?
📅BP 2014
Q44.
📅BP 2014
Q45.
Two deuterons each of mass m fuse to form helium resulting in release of energy E. The mass of helium formed is
📅BP 2014
Q46.
Which pair of nuclides are isotones (same number of neutrons)?
📅BP 2014
Q47.
📅BP 2014
Q48.
📅BP 2014
Q49.
Ignoring target-recoil requirements, what is the minimum rest energy needed to create a proton–antiproton pair?
📅BP 2014
Q50.
📅BP 2014
Q51.
Assume the strong nuclear force between nucleons at a given separation is approximately charge-independent, and compare the net attractive force for neutron–neutron (F1), proton–proton (F2), and proton–neutron (F3) pairs. Which relation is expected when Coulomb repulsion is included?
📅BP 2014
Q52.
📅BP 2014
Q53.
📅BP 2014
Q54.
📅BP 2014
Q55.
📅BP 2014
Q56.
📅BP 2014
Q57.
A nucleus with mass number 200 initially at rest emits an alpha particle. If the Q of the reaction is 5.5 MeV, Calculate the K.E. of the α-particle
📅BP 2014
Q58.
The radius of Al nucleus, in fermi, is nearly
📅MOE Curriculum
Q59.
The approx radius of nucleus of Cu in fermi is
📅MOE 2008
Q60.
📅MOE 2065
Q61.
A positron has the same mass as
📅MOE 2063
Q62.
Radius of Al (At wt = 27) nucleus in fermi is
📅MOE 2056
Q63.
Among the following nuclei, which has a particularly high binding energy per nucleon?
📅T.E. 2006
Q64.
Neutrino is a particle which has
📅T.E. 2004
Q65.
When a Sun-like star exhausts hydrogen fuel in its core and evolves toward a red giant, what generally happens to its surface temperature and radius?
📅BPKIHS 2002
Q66.
According to Standard Model, spin half particles are known as
📅KU 2015
Q67.
📅KU 2015
Q68.
The source of energy of sun is
📅KU 2016