Sunday, January 10, 2016

Syllabus XII- Nuclear Physics

Scope of Syllabus

Nuclear Energy

  • Nuclear  fission;  chain  reaction;  principle  of operation of a nuclear reactor.
  • Nuclear  fusion;  thermonuclear  fusion  as  the source of the sun's energy.

Theoretical (qualitative) prediction of exothermic (with release of energy)nuclear reaction, in fusing together two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus and in splitting heavy nucleus to form middle order (lower  mass number)  nuclei, is evident from the shape of BE per nucleon versus mass number graph.
    Click Here... to Watch Video on Nuclear Energy
    Click Here... to Watch Video on binding energy 

Also calculate the disintegration energy Q for a  heavy  nucleus  (A=240)  with  BE/A (approx = 7.6 MeV  per  nucleon  split  into  two  equal  halves with  A=120 each  and  BE/A (approx= 8.5 MeV/nucleon);  Q (approx = 200  MeV).

Discovery  of fission.  Any one equation of fission reaction. Chain reaction- controlled and uncontrolled; nuclear  reactor  and  nuclear  bomb.    

Main parts of a nuclear reactor including a simple diagram and their functions - fuel elements, moderator, control  rods, coolant, casing; criticality; utilization of energy output - all qualitative  only. 
    Click Here... to Watch Video on Nuclear Reactor and its operation

Fusion,  simple  example  of 4H1 to 4He2 and its nuclear reaction equation; requires very high temperature (approx= 10(exp 6 degrees); difficult to achieve; hydrogen bomb; thermonuclear  energy production  in  the  sun and  stars.  [Details  of  chain  reaction  not required].