Basic Concepts of Nuclear Physics
by Benjamin Thayer
Contents
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Binding Energy
Mass Energy Equivalence
Binding Energy vs. Atomic mass
Applications: Fission and Fusion
Binding Energy
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Binding energy is the energy that is
lost when a nucleus is created from
protons and neutrons.
Binding energy speaks of an nucleus’
stability
The greater the binding nrg, the
more stabile.
Binding Energy Cont.
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If you added up the mass
of the proton and neutrons
seperately and then added
them up together
collectively (i.e. the mass
of the nucleus,) you would
find their sum is not equal.
This difference in mass,
together with Einstein’s
mass energy relationship,
defines the magnitude of
the binding energy.
Nuclear binding energy =
change (m c^2)
The Nuclear Binding Energy Curve
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One of the most
important graphs
in all physics!!!
Definition: tightly
bound = less mass
per neucleon
Applications: Fission and Fusion
Applications Cont.
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The yields of
uranium fission
and tritiumdeuterium fusion