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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.
3,164 Questions
How long will nuclear fission last?
it goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. That's about it.
How is nuclear fission different from radioactive decay?
The basic difference is that in radioactive decay, an unstable isotope spontaneously undergoes a nuclear change. In nuclear fission, a fissionable isotope absorbs a neutron, becomes unstable, and then fissions by breaking into a couple of pieces and releasing one or more neutrons plus some energy. Nuclear fission is usually thought of as intentionally caused.
Note: It is possible for a fissionable isotope to spontaneously fission without capturing a neutron. This is not the usual mode of "breakdown" of the isotope, but it is possible in a small number of cases.
Links to the relevant Wikipedia articles are provided.
Why we shouldn't use atomic energy?
Some reasons why some people argue against the use of atomic energy include risks of accidents like meltdowns or radiation leaks, challenges with disposing of radioactive waste, and the potential for nuclear proliferation and weaponization. Additionally, nuclear energy can be expensive to build and maintain, and there is still uncertainty around long-term health and environmental impacts.
Is this true radioactivity and radioactive decay are two distinct phenomena?
True and False. Radioactivity is a characteristic of unstable atomic nuclei, whereas radioactive decay is the process that a radioactive nucleus undergoes when it decays due to its instability.
Argument for true: Radioactivity is the tendency to undergo radioactive decay.
Argument for false: The two terms are unrelated because one is a characteristic and the other is a process, and, therefore, the question misunderstands the definition of the terms.
You choose your definition. This writer prefers false.
Where does background radiation originate?
Background radiation can come from all sorts of sources, some natural, some man-made.
Examples include...
- cosmic rays from space
- radon gas emitted from the earth's crust
- electromagnetic radiation from a number of possible sources
- atomic radiation from nuclear substances.
For much more information see Related links below this box.
Where do the 2 outer electrons go when Uranium loses an alpha particle?
Electrons do not go anywhere. Alpha decay involves the loss of two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus (it is beta decay which involves the loss of an electron, and other particle changes).
Fusion and fission are opposing processes. In the sun, hydrogen atoms are fused together to form helium. On earth, the most commonly used element is uranium, which is split into smaller atoms.
What is the beta decay equation of radium-222?
The equation for the alpha decay of radon-222 takes the following form. Radon-222 ----> He + Polonium. In an alpha decay, the atom loses 2 neutrons and 2 protons.
It is a naturally occurring isotope of Uranium making 0.72% of total naturally found Uranium. Since, it is very less in nature, therefore it is sometimes made from Uranium-238
in nuclear reactors.
Only certain elements are fissionable, or at least with practical means. The fission of for example the atom U235 happens when it is struck by a slow neutron, it splits, which is fission, releasing two smaller atoms and two or three neutrons (products). The products from the nuclear reaction weigh less then the original atoms. The difference in weight is converted into energy.
A nuclear triad refers to a nuclear arsenal which consists of three components, traditionally strategic bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). The purpose of having a three-branched nuclear capability is to significantly reduce the possibility that an enemy could destroy all of a nation's nuclear forces in a first-strike attack; this, in turn, ensures a credible threat of a second strike, and thus increases a nation's nuclear deterrence.[1][2][3]
Whats the benefits of the energy source for nuclear fission?
Nuclear fission as an energy source has benefits such as producing large amounts of energy from a small amount of fuel, generating low greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, and providing a consistent and reliable source of power. Additionally, nuclear fission can help reduce dependence on non-renewable energy sources and contribute to energy security.
What causes the strong interaction?
The strong interaction is caused by the exchange of particles called gluons between quarks, which are the building blocks of protons and neutrons. Gluons carry the strong force and hold quarks together inside a hadron (proton or neutron).
What does Daniel Schacter suggests that storage decay contributes to?
Daniel Schacter suggests that storage decay contributes to forgetting in memory. This occurs when memories fade over time due to lack of use or reinforcement, leading to difficulties in retrieving the information.
What is the other product in a beta decay of zirconium-93?
The other product in the beta decay of zirconium-93 is niobium-93. In beta decay, a neutron in the nucleus is converted to a proton, resulting in the formation of a new element with one higher atomic number.
The equations decay of Mb-99 to Tc-99?
Technetium-99 is produced through the decay of Molybdenum-99. Molybdenum-99 undergoes beta decay to form Technetium-99, with the emission of a beta particle (electron) and an antineutrino. This decay process is commonly utilized in nuclear medicine for imaging and diagnostic purposes.
Do Fission and fusion have identical reactions?
No. In fact they might be considered sort of an opposite of one another. They are both reactions that change the elements of the atoms involved, and in both cases the numbers of protons and neutrons is constant through the reactions, but fusion combines atoms, and fission divides them.
Fusion happens when two atoms merge into a single atom. For example, two deuterium atoms (2H) can combine to form a helium-3 (3He) atom plus a neutron. Or, an 2H atom can combine with a lithium-6 (6Li) atom to form a single helium-4 (4He) atom plus a neutron.
By contrast, fission happens when an atom breaks apart. The only isotope found in any quantity in nature on Earth that does this spontaneously is uranium-235 (235U). The resulting products of fission are not precisely predictable for a given event, but the product is a pair of atoms with atomic masses that are somewhat more and somewhat less than that of the original atom. Their combined masses will be slightly less than the mass of the original atom, with the difference being accounted for in neutrons that are emitted. So, for example, an atom of 236U could divide into an atom of 141Ba and and atom of 92Kr plus 3 neutrons (141+92+3=236). Or an atom of 236U could divide into 138Xe and 94Sr plus 4 neutrons (138+94+4=236).
What makes radioactive material unstable?
Radioactive material is unstable because it "wants" to change the configuration of the nucleus to one that is more stable. This is a result in an inbalance of the ratio of protons vs neutrons, said ratio being different for each isotope.
What would happen if all the atoms in an object vibrated at the same frequency?
If all the atoms in an object vibrated at the same frequency, it could lead to resonance, where the vibrations reinforce each other, potentially increasing the object's energy and causing it to break apart. This phenomenon is similar to how a glass can shatter when a certain frequency of sound is played near it.
How does Alpha particles affects us?
Alpha particles can be harmful if they come into contact with living tissue, as they can damage cells and potentially lead to health issues such as radiation sickness or an increased risk of cancer. However, the extent of the damage depends on the dose and the route of exposure, with lower doses having a lower risk of harm. Protection measures can help minimize the risk of exposure to alpha particles, such as through proper shielding and safety precautions.
What word means unstable elements that decay?
The word Radioactive usually denotes a substance containing unstable atomic nuclei.
During nuclear fusion two nuclei fuse to form a heavier element and?
release a large amount of energy, typically in the form of heat and light. This process is what powers the sun and other stars, producing elements like helium from hydrogen. Fusion reactions have the potential to generate clean and abundant energy on Earth, but are currently technologically challenging to sustain in a controlled manner.
Which planets crashed to make the big bang?
The cause of the Big Bang is largely speculative and is one of the most difficult questions to answer. It is a complicated and perplexing issue that is a topic of some serious research by scientists. We will probably never find concrete evidence for what caused it because this is outside our realm of observation. The Big Bang describes some of the earliest moments in the Universe's existence, but it cannot go back to time zero.
For many, "God caused the Big Bang" is a perfectly reasonable response and helps them cope with the unsatisfying prospect of an event without a cause. However, one is then forced to ask "From where did the creator come?" If the answer is "he always existed" then we have a situation, from a causality standpoint, that is no more satisfying than a universe that springs forth from nothing. A creator that has always existed is an entity that somehow exists without a cause.
Another hypothesis is that the Universe is cyclical and that it goes through an infinite number of "Big Bangs" and "Big Crunches". However, the Big Crunch has been determined to be unlikely due to the discovery that the Universe is actually expanding faster. Not only that, an infinitely cyclical Universe has other problems having to do with entropy and thermodynamics.
One of the most popular current theories is that the Universe is one of an infinite number of Universes collectively known as the multiverse. According to this, universes have always existed, popping in and out of existence like bubbles. Scientists are currently searching for possible evidence of the multiverse. One suggestion proposed by M-theory is that the collision of "membranes" existing in higher dimensions causes Universes to come into existence. Another associated theory is string theory.
For the serious investigator, there are a group of highly complex theories that can possibly explain the Big Bang. The origin of the singularity that appeared in the first instant of the Big Bang is uncertain. Though our understanding of natural laws expands all the time, we still don't have the tools to pin down the answer to this question, and it is likely that we may never know for certain.
If you want to learn more about this contentious topic, follow the links below regarding various theories.
At the moment there is no definitive answer to this question, though various theories do try to address the question.
One idea is that it is merely a consequence of quantum mechanics and the uncertainty principle..basically it's the highly unlikely, though possible, spontaneous creation of particles.
Given that time did not really exist before the big bang, it doesn't really matter how long such a thing would take.
Another idea in string theory is that two universes, composed of 'branes' collided, and spawned ours in the reaction.
We may never know the answer to that question. We know what happened a fraction of a second after the Big Bang, but we don't know what happened at or before that point, because that is the origin of space and time.
We can only speculate, because whatever caused the Big Bang lies outside space and time, and if it lies outside space and time, it is impossible to observe.
Some hypotheses include a multiverse, quantum fluctuation, and even a supernatural being.
No one even knows for sure if there was a big bang, let alone what caused it. The big bang is a hypothesis based on extrapolation of alleged outward motion of galaxies back in time from the earth as center of the Universe, which motion is based on the assumption that the cosmological red shift is caused by a Doppler red shift of the light. Unfortunately for that hypothesis there is no other additional evidence of that Doppler shift or that motion. To see an alternate explanation of the loss of energy by light as it passes through the Universe
ADDITION:
Because we can only view our universe from Earth (which, by the way, is not the centre of the universe), we could also be viewing what we 'perceive' to be an expanding universe (Red Shift) only because we are withdrawing (being pulled away from) from the rest of that universe - along with the local group within our galaxy (Large Cloud of Magellan, Small cloud of Magellan, M32, NGC147, Andromeda, Ursa Minor and the rest . . . all of which are not redshifted and rapidly moving away from us, and in fact from our perspective from Earth, Andromeda is rapidly moving towards us). This would imply that a super massive Black Hole is effecting all of these local bodies (including our own solar system).
