Nuclear Energy Objectives:
1. Know the definitions of the following terms: Isotope, beta particle, mass defect, binding energy, band of stability, chain reaction, alpha particle, fission, fusion, critical mass, gamma ray, half life, positron emission, transmutation, strong nuclear force, transuranium elements.
2. Be able to explain what forces hold the nucleaus of an atom together and which forces cause instability. Relate the balance between strong nuclear forces and electric forces to the stability of a given isotope.
3. Relate the neutron to proton ratio in an atom to the atom's stability and to the band of stability.
4. Relate mass defect to binding energy and be able to calculate binding energy from the mass defect.
5. Identify different types of particles/energy (alpha particle, beta particle, positron, neutron, gamma rays) that are released during nuclear transmutations and be able to balance nuclear equations using these particles.
6. Know that fusion is the process by which hydrogen is converted into heavier elements on the sun.
7. Be able to use the half life of an isotope to calculate various quanties pertaining to the exponential decay of that isotope.
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