Name:
__________________________________________
Period:
_____
Thermodynamics, Modern,
and Nuclear Physics
Unit Packet
CP Physics
Ms. Morrison
Notes/Diagrams
Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
Thermodynamics
Kinetic Molecular Theory:
 Molecules have:
 What happens when molecules move
faster?
Conduction:

 Conductors =
 What are poor conductors and what do
they do?
Convection:

 What are fluids?
 Example:
 Causes:
Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
Radiation:

 Examples:
Temperature:

 What are the three temperature scales?
Heat:

 What direction does energy always
move?
 What condition exists when two objects
reach the same temperature?
Internal Energy:


Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
1st Law of Thermodynamics:

 What causes an increase in internal
energy?
2nd Law of Thermodynamics:

 What is required to move heat from
cold to hot?
 What is entropy and what is always
happening to it?
Heat Engine:

 Example:
Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
Modern Physics
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity:
 Two Parts
 Special – deals with relative and
absolute motion and rest
 General – deals with particles as
they accelerate (radical revision of
Newton’s theory of motion)
 Both theories have been confirmed to a
very high degree
Special Theory of Relativity (1905):
 Speed of light, c, is constant
 Does one’s frame of reference change
the value of the speed of light?
 What is true about the laws of physics
in any frame of reference?
 E = mc2:
 As approach speed of light:
 Length:
 Mass:
 Time:
 twin paradox:
Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
General Theory of Relativity (1915):
 What is the effect of gravitational
fields on the space-time continuum?
 What else can gravity do besides bend
light?
 What did the theory predict existed?
 one of pillars of Big Bang Theory
Nuclear Physics
Radioactive decay:
 Elements with more than 83 protons –
extra neutrons cannot stabilize the
nucleus - unstable
 Definition:
 Three types of radioactive decay:



Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
Alpha Decay:




Beta Decay:





Gamma Decay:





Radioactive Isotopes:
 Isotopes =
 Some are radioactive and unstable and
go through spontaneous radioactive decay
Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
Radioactive Half-life:
 Isotopes decay at different rates
 Half-life =
 Decay rates are constant
 What is the formula for calculating the
amount of a radioactive sample left?
Nuclear equations:
 Show alpha or beta decay
 Transmutation:
 Mass numbers and atomic numbers on each
side of equation must be equal
 Example of alpha decay:
 Example of beta decay:
Additional Notes/Examples
Notetaking
Nuclear Fission:

 Releases huge amounts of energy
 What occurs when a nucleus splits and
releases neutrons?
 What is necessary to sustain a chain
reaction?
 Subcritical:
 Supercritical:
 This type of nuclear reaction used in
nuclear power plants – uses heat
released from the nuclear reaction to
heat water to steam to turn a turbine
 What are the three parts of a nuclear
reactor?
 What is a major drawback to nuclear
power?
Nuclear Fusion:


 Used by sun, does not cause pollution,
no radioactive waste, but currently
costs more to produce energy than what
it yields in energy
CP PHYSICS
NUCLEAR PHYSICS WORKSHEET I
Name: ________________________
__ period
I.
Half – Life Problems
1.
A sample of radon has a half-life of 15 hours. What fraction of the sample is left after
60 hours have passed?
2.
An isotope has a half-life of 3.0 days. What fraction of the sample is left after 15 days?
3.
A radioactive polonium sample has a half-life of 103 years. How much of a 100 g sample
would remain after 412 years?
4.
The half-life of strontium-90 is 28 years. If 140 years pass, how much if left of a 500 g
sample?
5.
A 10 g sample of carbon-14 undergoes radioactive decay. If the half-life of carbon-14 is
5700 years, how much is left of the sample after 17,100 years?
II.
Nuclear Equations
1.
214
3.
227
5.
226
83
92
88
Bi 
0
U 
4
Ra 
e +
2.
210
He +
4.
56
-1
2
4
He +
2
84
24
Po 
Cr 
4
He +
2
0
e +
-1