Dates

Chap

Topics

10/31-11/02

12

Chapter 12 - Nuclear Structure
Concentrate on :

• Introduction
       Discussion - p. 374
• Sec 12.1 Nuclear Constituents
       neutrons, protons, nucleons (oh my!) - isotopes
• Sec 12.2 Nuclear sizes and shapes - average nuclear density = constant
• Sec 12.3 Nuclear masses and binding energies
       nuclear binding energy formula (eq. 12.4) - conversion factor
       Dr. Scott's favorite graph in all of Contemporary Physics - Figure 12.4 - it is awesome!!!
• Sec 12.4 Nuclear Force {subject of a recent Nobel Prize!}
       characteristics of the force
       exchange particle/force - mass estimate
• Sec 12.5 Radioactive Decay
       stable isotope chart - Figure 12.7
       activity and radioactive decay law - half life - dating of rocks

Suggested problems Chapter 12 :
   1, 7, 15, 17, 23, 25

11/07-11/09

12

Chapter 12 - Nuclear Structure (continued)
Concentrate on :

• Sec 12.6 Conservation laws
       energy, linear momentum, angular momentum, charge, mass number
• Sec 12.7 Alpha Decay alpha decay graph
       reaction equation - energy released - how much KE for alpha?
       barrier penetration - alpha decay example (Figure 12.11)
• Sec 12.8 Beta Decay
       negative beta decay graph, positive beta decay graph, electron capture graph   all decays together
       animation of Pos/Neg beta graphs   animation of PosBeta/EC graphs
• Sec 12.9 Gamma Decay
       excited nucleus emits discrete wavelengths - but, don't know the potential model
• Sec 12.10 Natural Radioactivity
       keep track of alphas and betas via start and finish nuclei (Figure 12.17)
       radioactive dating of rocks

Suggested problems Chapter 12 :
   1, 7, 15, 17, 23, 25

11/14-11/16

13

Chapter 13 Nuclear reactions

• Sec 13.1 Types of reactions
       equation type - p. 412
       cross-sections/probabilities - Figure 13.3
• Sec 13.3 Low Energy Reaction Kinematics
       defs of exothermic/exoergic or endothermic/endoergic
       threshold energy - eq 13.14 - example 13.5
• Sec 13.4 Fission
       liquid drop model (effective conceptual picture)
       useful features of fission reactions:
          energy dissipation, neutron multiplicity, delayed neutrons
       technological problems to overcome:
          enrichment, moderation, loss of neutrons
       types of reactors:
          boiling water, pressurized water, liquid metals
       natural fission reactor
• Sec 13.5 Fusion
       carbon cycle
       fusion reactors (magnetic vs inertial confinement)
• Sec 13.6 Applications of Nuclear Physics
       Alpha decay applications
       creation of synthetic elements

11/21-11/23

14

Chap 14 Elementary Particles
Concentrate on :

• Introduction
       features of atoms (spectra) lead to theories - features of nuclei -> strong force?
          features of nucleons -> Standard Model?
• Sec 14.1 Four basic food groups (I mean Forces!)
       weak to strong: gravity, weak, electromag, strong
       ranges vs timescales of interactions
       represent interactions by exchange of particles
• Sec 14.2 Particles/Anti-Particles
       attempt to classify by weight (leptons, mesons, baryons)
       classification by spin (half, integer, half-integer)
       classify by their anti-particles - annihilation - anti-hydrogen?
       use "ordinary" matter to sort out who is a particle and who is an anti-particle
• Sec 14.3 Families of Particles
       classify by interactions with various forces
       LEPTONS (electron, muon, tau, plus neutrinos for each)
       MESONS (pions, Kaons, rho, D, B, etc.)
       BARYONS (protons, neutrons, sigma, delta, etc.)
• Sec 14.4 Conservation Laws
       Lepton number conserved (be careful of type of lepton also!)
       baryon number conserved
       meson number not conserved (but some meson reactions not allowed - add STRANGENESS)

11/28-11/30

14

Chap 14 Elementary Particles (continued)
Concentrate on :

• Sec 14.8 Quark Model
       plot strangeness against charge - see patterns
       can make mesons/baryons from combination of 3 quarks (for now, add 3 more later): up, down, strange
       partial charges, 1/2 spin, partial baryon number
       to create heavy mesons, need charmed quark
       for Y mesons - need bottom (beauty) quark
       finally add top quark (truth) - weighs same as a gold nucleus!
       evidence for quarks - scattering - like Rutherford!
       Old names for quarks and anti-quarks   Chart version
       Timeline of elementary particle discoveries
       Brief origin of names (not of old names though)
       Another origin page - explanation of why the old names were abandoned ...
• Sec 14.9 Standard Model
       group ordinary matter with electron/neutrino and two quarks (u,d)
       next level of energy - muon/neutrino and (c,s)
       next level of energy - tau/neutrino and (t,b)
       quantum chromodynamics - gluons hold quarks together (colors associated .. like charge, but 3 of them)
       standard model = 6 leptons, 6 quarks + field particles (photon, 3 weak bosons, 8 gluons)
       electroweak theory brings electromag and weak force together
       GUT = join electro weak with strong
       join gravity to GUT and get yourself a Nobel Prize!

Elementary Particles - "Particle Zoo" handout (images from textbook)

Conservation Law Worksheet - Elementary Particles
Answer sheet for worksheet above (don't peek!)

Suggested problems Chapter 14 :    TBA

Test 3 - Wed 11/30/2011 - Chapters 9-14

Test topics : ... bring periodic table/chart sheet!

• alpha decays, beta decays (all three: positive, negative, EC) (calculational)
• natural decay chain (calculational)
• general exponential decays (half-life stuff) (calculational)
• radioactive dating (calculational)
• useful features/hurdles of fission (conceptual)
• containment mechanisms for fusion (conceptual)
• applications of nuclear science (conceptual)