About the lecture

In this mini-lecture, we explore nuclear physics. As we move through this mini-lecture, we consider: (i) the nucleus (and nuclide) in greater detail, introducing atomic mass number A and atomic number Z; (ii) nuclide stability, which is based on whether the mass of the individual protons and neutrons making up the nuclide is greater or less than the resulting mass of the nuclide; (iii) the relationship between mass and energy; (iv) the binding energy; (v) the binding energy per nucleon (BEN) and a plot of the BEN vs. atomic mass number A; (vi) nuclear fusion and fission, using examples from the BEN vs. atomic mass number A plot; (vii) a demonstration of the chain reaction that takes place in nuclear reactions; (viii) radioactive decay, inducing alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay; and (ix) a demonstration of radioactivity using a Geiger counter.

About the lecturer

Janet Lovett is a Lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St Andrews. Her primary research interest is in measuring nanometre distances for structural biology using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Dr Lovett teaches a first-year ‘Properties of Matter’ course at the University in addition to other courses such as magnetic resonance.