Properties of the Nucleus

From the Universe to the Atom >

Inquiry question: How can the energy of the atomic nucleus be harnessed?

Students:
● analyse the spontaneous decay of unstable nuclei, and the properties of the alpha, beta and gamma radiation emitted (ACSPH028, ACSPH030)
● examine the model of half-life in radioactive decay and make quantitative predictions about the activity or amount of a radioactive sample using the following relationships:

where 𝑁_t = number of particles at time 𝑡, 𝑁₀ = number of particles present at 𝑡 = 0, 𝜆 = decay constant, 𝑡_1/2 = time for half the radioactive amount to decay (ACSPH029)
● model and explain the process of nuclear fission, including the concepts of controlled and uncontrolled chain reactions, and account for the release of energy in the process (ACSPH033, ACSPH034)
● analyse relationships that represent conservation of mass-energy in spontaneous and artificial nuclear transmutations, including alpha decay, beta decay, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion (ACSPH032)
● account for the release of energy in the process of nuclear fusion (ACSPH035, ACSPH036)
● predict quantitatively the energy released in nuclear decays or transmutations, including nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, by applying: (ACSPH031, ACSPH035, ACSPH036)
– the law of conservation of energy
– mass defect
– binding energy
– Einstein’s mass–energy equivalence relationship 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐²

Extract from Physics Stage 6 Syllabus © 2017 NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)