NUCLEAR PHYSICS

COURSE
JUBILEE SCHOOL
JULY 2015

BY AMAL SWEIS

COURSE NAME: NUCLEAR PHYSICS

Course Type: Elective
Pre Requisites: Basic knowledge of the structure of the atom
Target students Level: 10th Grade
No. of sessions: 3 sessions / week
Time: 1st semester
Course Description:
This course covers part of the nuclear physics usually offered in modern physics courses at
the level of university-undergraduate. So this course aims to teaching the students the basics of
nuclear physics and its applications.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, the students should be able to:
Describe the constituents of the nucleus.
Understand the atomic numbers (Z, N, A)
Distinguish between isotope, isotones, and isobars.
Understand what is meant by stable and unstable nuclei.
Compare the different decay series.
Be familiar with the (N-Z) curve and the binding energy graph
Calculate the binding energy of a nucleus.
Understand the meaning of a ingrowth.
Be familiar with the properties of the different types of nuclear radiation.
Compare different types of detectors of radiation.
Write equations to represent alpha and beta decay.
Describe the how the nucleus changes after an alpha or a beta decay.
Understand the cause of a gamma emission.
Be familiar with the half-life of a radioactive element.
Perform some simple calculations using the idea of the half-life.
Give some practical applications of radioisotopes.
Explain how fission and fusion takes place.
Describe the constituents of the nuclear reactor.
Understand how a nuclear reactor works.
Be familiar with the idea of a nuclear power-station.
Understand what is meant by a particle accelerator.
Distinguish between different types of particle accelerators.
Understand what is meant by the nuclear fuel cycle.
Be familiar with the environmental impact of nuclear energy

General Outline

Suggested no. of sessions

Revision 1
Atomic structure
[1] Composition and properties of the nucleus .6
a- Atomic and mass numbers
b- Isotopes, isotones and isobars
c- Stability of the nucleus
d- The Z-N curve
e- The binding energy of a nucleus
f- Binding nucleons graph
[2] Radioactivity ..5
a- What is radioactivity?
b- Types of Radioactive Emission
1. Alpha particles
2. Beta particles
3. Gamma radiation
A story to read
[3] Characteristics of Radioactive Emission .....5
a- The Ionizing Effect
b- Penetrating Power
c- Deflection in Electric Field
d- Deflection in Magnetic Field
[4] Detectors of Radiation .5
a- Gold Leaf Electroscope
b- Geiger-Muller Tube
c- Cloud Chamber
d- Film Badge (Dosimeter)
e. Personal Radiation Detector (PRD)
[5] Radioactive Decay 3
a- Alpha Decay
b- Beta Decay

c- Gamma Decay
[6] The decay series (chain).1
[7] Half-life .2
[8] Uses of Radioisotopes ...4
a. Uses of Radioisotope in Archeology
b. Uses of Radioisotope in Industry
c. Uses of Radioisotope in the Medical field
d. Uses of Radioisotope in Agriculture
e. Smoke detectors
[9] Nuclear Energy .2
a. Nuclear Fission
b. Nuclear Fusion
c. Chain Reaction
[10] Generation of Electricity from Nuclear Fission ..3
a. The Nuclear Reactor
b. Nuclear power-station (plant)
[11] Nuclear accelerators ..,4
a. electrostatic accelerators
Van de Graaff accelerator
b. oscillating field accelerators
1- Linear
2- Circular :
(i) The cyclotron
(ii) The synchrotron
[12] The Nuclear Fuel Cycle 1
[13] Environmental impact of nuclear power ...3

* Students-presentation sessions depend on the number of students in class.

Teaching stratigies

Class Discussion
Using appropriate illustrative videos
A lecture given by an expert in nuclear energy
Visiting the nuclear accelerator at the Jordan university
A debate between two teams in the class, one approves the presence of a nuclear reactor

in Jordan, and one against it.

Discussion over the students presentations on selected topics related to the course
objectives.

Overall Evaluation:
Evaluation

Grade

Homework/ Class work

30 %

Mid-Term Exam

20 %

Final Exam

30 %

Presentation

20%

Total Evaluation

100%