YAD-002 · The atomic nucleus Sample material

Basic properties of nuclei

Nuclear composition, electric and baryon charge, mass and binding energy, mass-measurement methods, radius and density, spin, magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments, statistics and parity.

Estimated time: 3 h 3 activities

Learning objective

Master the composition of the nucleus and the concepts of charge and baryon charge.
Learn to calculate the mass defect and binding energy.
Understand the physical meaning of nuclear radius, density, spin and electromagnetic moments.
Know the properties of even-even, even-odd and odd-odd nuclei.

Expected outcomes

Can calculate the binding energy of any nucleus from a table of atomic masses.
Can estimate nuclear radius and density with R = r₀A^(1/3).
Can determine nuclear spin type and statistics from the parity of A.
Can explain what the magnetic and quadrupole moments reveal.

Interactive modelComposition of the atomic nucleus
Interactive modelBinding energy per nucleon

Activities

Lecture
Lecture · 1 h 20 min · required
Nuclear composition. Nuclear charge. Nuclear size and density. Electric and baryon charge. Even-even, even-odd and odd-odd nuclei
Practice · 1 h 20 min · required
Final test
Test · 20 min · required · pass ≥ 70%

Completion conditions

  • Lecture
  • Nuclear composition. Nuclear charge. Nuclear size and density. Electric and baryon charge. Even-even, even-odd and odd-odd nuclei
  • Final test — at least 70%