![]() ![]() The binding energy per nucleon is a measure of the stability of a nucleus the larger this energy the more stable the nucleus. The mass energy of any nucleus is always less than the sum of the mass energies of its constituent nucleons and the binding_energy_of_a_nucleusbinding energy of the nucleus is equal to this difference. The following questions will allow you to establish whether you need to review some of the topics before embarking on this module.įigure 1 The nuclear binding energy graph with some nuclei shown explicitly. If you are uncertain about any of these terms then you can review them by referring to the Glossary, which will indicate where in FLAP they are developed. You should be familiar with the electronvolt (eV) energy unit and with masses expressed in atomic mass units (u) and in MeV/ c 2 and should be able to use conventional symbols for nuclides (e.g. energy released), radioactive decay (α–, β– and γ–decay), strong nuclear force. Study comment In order to study this module you will need to be familiar with the following terms: atomic mass, atomic number, binding_energy_of_a_nucleusbinding energy, charge, Einstein’s mass–energy equation, electric potential energy, electromagnetic radiation, electron, conservation_of_energyenergy conservation, half–life, ionization, isotope, kinetic energy, magnetic field, mass number A, neutron, nucleon, nuclide, photon, proton, Q–value (i.e. Study comment Having seen the Fast track questions you may feel that it would be wiser to follow the normal route through the module and to proceed directly to the following Ready to study? Subsection.Īlternatively, you may still be sufficiently comfortable with the material covered by the module to proceed directly to the Section 5Closing items. However, if you have difficulty with more than two of the Exit questions you are strongly advised to study the whole module. If you have difficulty with only one or two of the questions you should follow the guidance given in the answers and read the relevant parts of the module. If you are sure that you can meet each of these achievements, try the Subsection 5.3Exit test. ![]() ![]() Study comment Can you answer the following Fast track questions? If you answer the questions successfully you need only glance through the module before looking at the Subsection 5.1Module summary and the Subsection 5.2Achievements. If not, proceed directly to the Subsection 1.3Ready to study? Subsection. If so, try the following Fast track questions. Study comment Having read the introduction you may feel that you are already familiar with the material covered by this module and that you do not need to study it. Various units for measuring radiation dose are introduced, and we end with a survey of the various sources of ionizing radiation to which we are exposed. We see how ionizing radiation affects living tissue, and how the effects of different types of radiation can be characterized by a radiation weighting factor. In Section 3 we describe the underlying physical principles of power generation by fusion, including the use of deuterium and tritium as fuels, and the need for a very high temperature plasma and the consequent problems of heating and confinement, both magnetic confinement and inertial confinement.įinally in Section 4, we consider the hazards associated with radioactivity. Power generation by nuclear fusion is the ultimate objective of intense international research effort which, if successful, will produce nuclear power with much less radioactive hazard than existing nuclear fission reactors. This is followed, in Subsection 2.3 by a summary of the various types of radioactive waste produced in fission reactors, and of the treatment (including reprocessing) of this material. In Subsection 2.2 we outline design features that allow a nuclear reactor to be maintained in a critical state, by means of control rods and a suitable moderator. We begin (in Section 2) by considering the process of nuclear fission and we see how thermal neutrons can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. We will approach the subject of radiation hazard from the point of view of the underlying physics and, as far as possible, give a quantitative presentation. The debate concerning the safety of the nuclear industry is still raging. The topics are related in that current nuclear power generation produces radioactive waste material. ![]() Two separate topics are covered in this module – the use of nuclear reactions for power generation (both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion) and the hazards of radioactivity. ![]()
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