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Defi ne the components of the nucleus (protons and neutrons) as nucleons and
contrast their properties
Ordinary matter consists of atoms, and at the centre of each atom is a compact nucleus
consisting of protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons are composed of quarks.
Mass (u)
Charge
(e)
+1
Stability
Proton
1.00728
Stable
s
Neutro 1.00866
0
Unstable outside of the
ns
nucleus
Note: u = Up quark, d = down quark
Quark
composition
uud
udd
Chadwicks experiments
Rutherfords discovery of the proton and neutron
Chadwick replicated this experiment, and used cloud chambers and Geiger counters to
determine the maximum velocity of the expelled protons
Using the conservation of momentum (P initial = P final), he could determine the mass of the
neutrally charged neutron Determined mass was the same as a proton
Using conservation of energy, he examined the disintegration of deuteron (proton and
neutron) by the photoelectric effect Determined mass of neutron was 1.0085u
Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another one
Can occur through two ways:
o Nuclear reactions: A larger nucleus captures a smaller nucleus to produce a new
element or isotope
o Radioactive decay: The nucleus is unstable, and emits a particle (alpha, beta), so that it
can enter a more stable state New chemical element or isotope is created
Fermi carried out neutron bombardment on heavy nuclei to investigate their properties
He attempted to make uranium undergo beta decay to produce transuranic elements
(increases atomic number)
Used slow instead of fast electrons, since they had a greater chance of being captured by
nuclei
When bombarding nuclei with neutrons, it produced 4 separate products with differing halflives, instead of a single product
This process was called nuclear fission
Discuss Paulis suggestion of the existence of neutrino and relate it to the need to
account for the energy distribution of electrons emitted in beta decay
It was through beta decay; the electron would carry the mass difference in the form of kinetic
energy
It turned out that the electrons KE, was less than the expected
The electrons didnt have the same KE, instead it was a distribution
F = kq1q2/d2
o q(electron) = 1.602E(-19)C
o k = 9E9 Nm2C-2
o F = 231N repulsive between two protons
F=Gm1m2/d2
o m(proton) = 1.673E(-27)kg
o G = 6.67E(-11) Nm2kg-2
o F = 1.8E(-34)N attractive
Evaluation of calculation
Account for the need for the strong nuclear force and describe its properties
The need for a strong nuclear force
Gravitational attractive force is far too small to oppose the electrostatic repulsive force
Thus there must be a strong nuclear force binding the protons together, to overcome the
electrostatic force
It glues all nucleons
Properties of mesons
Exchanged between nucleons (protons and neutrons Form the nucleus) to provide the
strong nuclear force
Attracts over short distances (10E(-15)m)
Becomes repulsive when distance exceed diameter of nucleon
Acts equally as strong between protons and neutrons
Very strong 100x the electrostatic repulsive force
Explain the concept of a mass defect using Einsteins equivalence between mass and
energy
Mass defect explained
1905 Einstein proposed that mass and energy were equivalent (E=mc 2)
Using this, 1u = 931.5MeV
In fission initiates the react, causing energy to be released as well as more neutrons
The produced neutrons would cause further reactions Known as a chain reaction
Reaction was controlled by inserting neutron absorbing materials into the uranium
The reactor was called an atomic pile, which consisted of graphite and uranium
Cadmium rods were used in Fermis experiments
A nuclear chain reaction occurs when one nuclear reaction causes an average of one
or more nuclear reactions, thus leading to a self-propagating number of these
reactions
The addition of a neutron to Uranium-235 leads to nucleus instability, causing it to break into
various products, some of which are neutrons which can cause further reactions