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Advanced Physics — Nuclear and Particle

Atomic nuclei, radioactive decay, and fundamental particles

S
strong_force_sf 23 terms Nov 10, 2025
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Terms 23

1
Nucleus
Core of atom containing protons and neutrons (nucleons); held by strong nuclear force
2
Atomic Number (Z)
Number of protons; defines element; determines electron configuration
3
Mass Number (A)
Total nucleons: A = Z + N (protons + neutrons)
4
Binding Energy
Energy needed to completely separate nucleus into nucleons; ΔE = Δm·c²; iron most stable
5
Mass Defect
Actual mass < sum of nucleon masses; converted to binding energy via E=mc²
6
Strong Nuclear Force
Strongest fundamental force; short-range (~1 fm); binds quarks and nucleons; mediated by gluons/pions
7
Alpha Decay
Emission of ⁴He nucleus; A decreases by 4, Z decreases by 2; heavy nuclei
8
Beta-minus Decay
n → p + e⁻ + ν̄_e; Z increases by 1; neutron-rich nuclei
9
Beta-plus Decay
p → n + e⁺ + ν_e; Z decreases by 1; proton-rich nuclei; needs ΔE > 1.022 MeV
10
Gamma Decay
Emission of high-energy photon; nucleus transitions to lower energy state; no change in A or Z
11
Electron Capture
Nucleus captures orbital electron; p + e⁻ → n + ν_e; Z decreases by 1; alternative to β⁺
12
Half-Life
Time for half of radioactive nuclei to decay; t₁/₂ = ln2/λ; ranges from femtoseconds to billions of years
13
Activity (A)
A = λN = N·ln2/t₁/₂; decays per second; measured in Becquerel (Bq) or Curie (Ci)
14
Nuclear Fission
Heavy nucleus splits into lighter fragments + neutrons + energy; U-235, Pu-239; chain reaction
15
Nuclear Fusion
Light nuclei combine into heavier nucleus + energy; powers stars; requires extreme T and P
16
Standard Model
Theory of fundamental particles and forces (except gravity); quarks, leptons, gauge bosons
17
Quarks
Up, down, charm, strange, top, bottom; confined in hadrons by gluons; fractional charge
18
Leptons
Electrons, muons, tau, and their neutrinos; do not feel strong force; 6 types
19
Gauge Bosons
Force carriers: photon (EM), W±/Z (weak), gluon (strong); Higgs boson (mass)
20
Higgs Boson
Gives mass to W/Z bosons via Higgs mechanism; discovered at CERN in 2012
21
Antimatter
Each particle has antiparticle with opposite charge; annihilates with matter releasing photons
22
Feynman Diagram
Pictorial representation of particle interactions; vertices show force carrier exchange
23
CP Violation
Asymmetry between matter and antimatter; explains why universe has more matter; weak force