Nuclear physics

You will be able to

• Calculate the mass defect of a nucleus and its binding energy using E = Δmc² (1 u ≡ 931.5 MeV).
• Sketch and explain the variation of binding energy per nucleon with nucleon number, with its peak near iron-56.
• Explain why fission of heavy nuclei and fusion of light nuclei both release energy, and calculate the energy released in a reaction.

You will be able to

• Explain that radioactive decay is random and spontaneous, yet a large sample follows x = x₀e^(−λt).
• Use A = λN and t½ = ln 2 / λ, and predict the fraction of a sample left after a whole number of half-lives.
• Determine the decay constant from the gradient of a graph of ln A against t, with error bars from counting statistics.