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Nuclear Physics
Most commonly known for its applications in nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, Nuclear Physics also has applications in medicine and archaeology. This category is for questions about the branch of physics that deals with the study of the forces, reactions, and internal structures of atomic nuclei, Nuclear Physics.
500 Questions
What is the speed of nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
The speed of nuclear fission can vary, but it typically occurs very rapidly, within fractions of a second. The process involves the splitting of atomic nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation.
What type of interference causes the crest of the wave to decrease or cancel out?
Asked by Wiki User
Destructive interference causes the crest of a wave to decrease or cancel out. This occurs when the crest of one wave aligns with the trough of another wave, resulting in a reduction or cancellation of the overall amplitude.
Which is the first step in the p-p chain of nuclear fusion?
Asked by Wiki User
The first step in the proton-proton chain of nuclear fusion is when two protons fuse to form deuterium, releasing a positron and a neutrino in the process.
When an atom splits it gives off what?
Asked by Wiki User
What species are given off when an atom "splits" depends on what causes the atom to split. There are four ways an atom can split: 1) Using a cyclotron or a syncrotron, some species traveling at very high velocity is collided into an atom. The atom may spit depending on the isotope of the atom used, the species it collides with and the velocity of the species. 2) Certain isotopes can capture a "slow" or "thermal" neutron after which the isotope will fission. 3) Certain isotopes are capable of splitting after being hit with a "fast" neutron. Slow neutrons must have a kinetic energy below a specific value, and fast neutrons must have a kinetic energy above a specific value. The kinetic energies required vary depending on the isotope capturing or being hit with a neutron. 4) There are a few isotopes that undergo spontaneous fission, meaning that they will fission without capturing or being hit with a neutron.
In case 1, if the atom splits, it and usually also the species with which it collides, disintegrates into at least two of the following species: isotopes with a smaller mass, subatomic particles and photons of electromagnetic radiation. For case 2, there are about nine or ten isotopes capable of capturing a slow neutron. These isotopes are named "fissile" isotopes, not to be confused with a "fissionable" isotope, which includes any isotope capable of undergoing nuclear fission regardless of the mechanism of the fission (not including fission caused in an atom smasher). Almost instantly after capturing a slow neutron, a fissile isotope becomes a new isotope of the same element, but with a nominal atomic mass of one AMU greater. The heavier isotope is unstable an immediately fissions into two lighter isotopes and releases at least one neutron plus ionizing radiation such as a gamma ray(s), beta particle(s) or an alpha particle(s). It is impossible to know what the two lighter isotopes are; one only knows the probability that the atom will split into two specific species. During the last approx. 70 years, socalled "fission curves" were emperically determined for the known fissionable isotopes. A fission curve is a graph that plots the mass of the fission products vs. the probability that a pair of specific lighter isotopes will be formed. In case 3, there are a handfull of isotopes that may split if they collide with a fast neutron traveling above a specific velocity. Each of these isotopes also has its own fission curve. Case 4 applies to the small number of isotopes that can split spontaneously, that is, without capturing or colliding with a neutron. Again, each of these isotopes have a specific fission curve.
It is important for someone who considers themselves a "Scientist" to know that only a very small fraction of all the isotopes are capable of "splitting," and, only if one of those isotopes disintegrates in a atomic accelerator, is the fissionable material in a "fast neutron" or a "fast flux" nuclear reactor, or is a constituent of a thermonuclear bomb. Lastly, a scientist should avoid using the word "split" when describing nuclear fission because that word implies that something hits an atom hard enough to cause it to break into pieces, and, in my opinion, causes most people to think that just about any atom will spit if it is hit hard enough by whatever. All 104 of the commerical nuclear power reactors in the USA, all the ones in Canada and in Europe, and probably in the rest of the world, operate by slow neutron capture by U-235 (and to a much lesser degree Pu-239) followed by nuclear fission. In other words, neutrons do not slam into U-235 or Pu-239 atoms breaking them into pieces.
All or virtually all commercial power reactors operate as follows: The nuclear fuel is a blend of uranium (238) oxide and uranium (235) oxide. Only about 0.7-2.5% of the uranium atoms are U-235, which is the primary isotope responsible for generating the heat that either causes the water in the reactor to boil or turns it into steam outside of the reactor vessel, depending on the design of the plant. A U-235 atom captures a neutron that has been slowed by normal water, heavy water (deuterium oxide, which is not radioactive) or graphite to form U-236. U-236 is an unstable isotope and breaks into two lighter isotopes, according to its fission curve, and releases an average of 2.4 neutrons. The entire process is incredibly fast, only taking a few nanoseconds to occur. Some of the neutrons from the U-235 fission go on to be captured by other U-235 atoms, however some of them must be captured to prevent a run-away chain reaction. Materials in the control rods are very efficient at capturing neutrons, and some plants add boron to the reactor water since boron is also efficient at capturing neutrons. Maintaining a nearly perfect balance that allows the right concentration of neutrons is necessary to keep the plant running.
Because of numerous automatic safety functions required in the USA, Canada and Europe, it is literally much more difficult to keep a plant running than to have an accident. If all of the nuclear operators just walked out of the control room, the plant would automatically shut down. The Three Mile Island accident was caused when improperly trained operators intentionally over-rode one or more automatic safety mechanisms. Even then, only a very small amount of tritium (H-3) was released from the plant, even though the reactor was ruined. Newer plants and all existing plants were designed or upgraded to prevent anyone from preventing or over-riding certain safety functions. The problem with Chernobyl was that the operators were performing some kind of unauthorized experiment that caused much of the water in the reactor to be lost. When they began to add water back into the reactor, the fuel was so hot that it caused the water to instantly turn to steam, and that caused a steam explosion that ruptured the reactor vessel. To make it worse, Chernobly was a graphite-moderated reactor, and without water and now with air able to enter the reactor, the graphite moderator ignited. None of the countries listed nor Japan has any graphite reactors.
The half-life of actinium 227 is 21.772 years After 50 years how much of a 1500 g sample will remain radioactive?
Asked by Wiki User
After 50 years, 1500 g of actinium-227 will have undergone approximately 2.3 half-lives (50 years / 21.772 years per half-life). This means that approximately 25% (50% decayed after 1 half-life, and 50% of the remaining amount decays after the second half-life) of the original sample will remain radioactive, so there will be around 375 g of actinium-227 remaining.
How do the electric charges of alpha particles beta particles and gamma rays differ from each other?
Asked by Wiki User
From Physics Forums The alpha particle has a 2+ charge, beta has 1- charge, and the gamma is neutral (no charge).
The beta particle could also have a 1+ charge if it undergoes positron emission [a proton turns into a neutron and a positron (the "anti-electron")]
Is the mass of an atom uniformly distributed within the nucleus?
Asked by Wiki User
No, the mass of an atom is not uniformly distributed within the nucleus. The majority of the mass is concentrated in the protons and neutrons, which are located in the center of the nucleus. The electrons, which have negligible mass compared to protons and neutrons, orbit around the nucleus in energy levels.
What do you know about nuclear changes?
Asked by Wiki User
Nuclear changes refer to processes that alter the structure or composition of atomic nuclei. These changes can involve nuclear reactions, such as fission or fusion, which release or absorb energy. They are critical in nuclear power generation, nuclear weapons development, and radioactive decay.
How the forces between neutral atoms are formed?
Asked by VidhyaShylu
Forces between neutral atoms are typically due to Van der Waals forces, which are weak and temporary electrostatic interactions between temporary dipoles in the atoms. These forces arise from fluctuations in electron distributions around the atoms, leading to attraction or repulsion between them, depending on the relative orientation of the dipoles.
What is the emission of electromagnetic radiation by an excited atom called?
Asked by Wiki User
The emission of electromagnetic radiation by an excited atom is called spontaneous emission. This process occurs when an atom transitions from a higher energy state to a lower energy state, releasing a photon in the form of electromagnetic radiation in the process.
What is the difference between nuclear fusion and sunspot?
Asked by Wiki User
Nuclear fusion is a process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. Sunspots, on the other hand, are temporary dark spots on the Sun's surface that are cooler than the surrounding areas due to magnetic activity. They appear as dark regions because they inhibit the flow of heat and energy from within the Sun to the surface.
What part of a nuclear reactor system contains uranium?
Asked by Wiki User
The fuel rods in a nuclear reactor system contain uranium. This uranium undergoes a nuclear reaction, generating heat used to produce electricity.
Is nuclear fission safe?
Asked by Wiki User
Nuclear fission can be safe when managed properly with appropriate safety measures in place. However, accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have shown that there are risks associated with nuclear fission. It is important for strict regulations, inspections, and maintenance to be in place to ensure safety.
Who named the process by which materials give off energy of an uranium atom radioactivity?
Asked by Wiki User
The process by which materials give off energy from a uranium atom was named radioactivity by Marie Curie in the early 20th century. She discovered that certain elements, like uranium, emit radiation spontaneously.
What is an example of a homogenous mixture that is very evenly mixed?
Asked by Wiki User
A bottle of pure water is an example of a homogeneous mixture that is very evenly mixed. Each part of the solution contains the same concentrations of water molecules, resulting in a uniform composition throughout the entire mixture.
Why are protons converted into neutrons during positron emission?
Asked by Wiki User
Protons are converted into neutrons during positron emission to maintain overall charge balance in the nucleus. When a proton changes into a neutron, a positron is emitted to conserve charge. This helps stabilize the nucleus by reducing the number of protons while maintaining the same overall positive charge.
How the principle of conservation of energy is violated in beta decay?
Asked by Wiki User
In beta decay, a neutron decays into a proton, electron, and antineutrino. Energy appears to not be conserved because the initial neutron has more mass-energy than the resulting proton, electron, and antineutrino combined. However, this apparent violation is resolved by accounting for the kinetic energy of the particles involved and the energy carried away by the antineutrino, ensuring overall energy conservation in the process.
What is the relationship between plasma and nuclear fission?
Asked by Wiki User
Plasma is not directly related to nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction that involves the splitting of atomic nuclei, producing energy. Plasma, on the other hand, is a state of matter where atoms are ionized and electrons are free, often used in fusion reactions, a different process from fission.
What are the advantages of expansion?
Asked by Wiki User
Type your answer here... expansion card advantages
Nuclear fission is a type of nuclear reaction in which the nucleus is?
Asked by Wiki User
Nuclear fission is a type of nuclear reaction in which the nucleus is split into two or more parts, releasing excess binding energy that is available due to the negative slope (for high mass nuclides) of the binding energy per nucleon curve. See the Related Link below for more information.
What was the element americium named after?
Asked by Wiki User
Americium was named after America, specifically the United States, where it was first synthesized in the 1940s.
What determines which radioactive element will give more accurate measurement of a rock's age?
Asked by Wiki User
The half-life of the radioactive element is a key factor in determining how accurately it can measure a rock's age. Elements with longer half-lives are more suitable for dating older rocks, while elements with shorter half-lives are better for dating younger rocks. Additionally, the presence of multiple isotopes in the rock can allow for cross-referencing and more accurate age determination.
What element does californium make when it emits an alpha particle?
Asked by Wiki User
When californium emits an alpha particle, it creates curium.
If the nucleus of an atom has a proton number of 6 and a mass number of 14 and it undergoes beta transmutation what will be the number of neutrons in the parent nucleus?
Asked by Wiki User
The results of beta transmutation will depend on which beta decay even occurs. If it's beta minus, a neutron will be converted into a proton and an electron will be ejected from the nucleus. The original atom with its 6 protons and 8 neutrons (6 + 8 = 14, the mass number as specified) will be an atom with 7 protons and 7 neutrons. In a beta plus decay event, a proton will be converted into a neutron and a positron will be ejected from the nucleus. The original atom with its 6 protons and 7 neutrons will be an atom with 5 protons and 8 neutrons. In addition to the ejected electron or positron, there will also be an ejected antineutrino or neutrino (respectively). Use the links below for more information on beta decay.
