Modern Physics Lecture-2

Constituents of atomic nucleus

All the atomic nuclei are made up of elementary particles called protons and neutrons. A proton has a
positive charge of the same magnitude as that of an electron and mass of proton is 1.67 × 10−27 𝑘𝑔.
A neutron is electrically neutral and mass of neutron is same as that of proton.
A
An atomic nucleus is represented by ZX.

Atomic number: The number of protons in a nucleus is called the atomic number. It is denoted by Z.
The identity of an element depends on the atomic number in a nucleus.

Mass number: The total number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus is called mass number. It is
denoted by A.
We can write 𝐴 = 𝑍 + 𝑁
Where, Z = Number of protons
N = Number of neutrons.

Nucleon: The combined (or common) name of proton and neutron which construct nucleus is called
nucleon.

Nuclide: The similar nuclei which are specified by the mass number and atomic number are known as
nuclide. For example, different isotopes of the same elements are different nuclide.
Classification of nucleus
Isotopes: Nuclei having same number of protons but different number of neutrons are called isotopes.

Examples: 11H, 21H 𝑎𝑛𝑑 31H are isotopes of Hydrogen.

12 13 14
6C, 6C 𝑎𝑛𝑑 6C are isotopes of Carbon.
Isobars: Nuclei having same mass number but different atomic number/proton number are called
isobars.
11 11
Examples: 11
4Be, 5B 𝑎𝑛𝑑 6C are isobars.
16
8O 𝑎𝑛𝑑 167N are isobars.
Isotones: Nuclei having same number of neutrons but different atomic number/proton number are
called isobars.

Examples: 31H, 42He 𝑎𝑛𝑑 53Li are isotones.

14 15
6C, 7N 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1680 are isotones.
Mirror nucleus: Nuclei having the same mass number but the proton and neutron number are
interchanged are called mirror nucleus.

Examples: 74Be (Z = 4, N = 3) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 73Li (Z = 3, N = 4) are mirror nucleus.

15
8
O (Z = 8, N = 7) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 157N (Z = 7, N = 8) are mirror nucleus.
Measurement of nuclear mass
In various phenomenona of nucleus it is seen that mass is converted into energy and vice-versa. So, it
is convenient to express mass and energy in same unit.

Md. Matiur Rahman, Lecturer (Dept. of Medical Physics), KYAU

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 Modern Physics Lecture-2

If m kg is the mass of the particle then the equivalent energy of the mass is mc2 Joule.
We know
𝐸 = 𝑚𝐶 2
∴ 𝐸 = 𝑚 × (2.9979 × 108 )2 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒
One electron volt unit is defined as the amount of work an electron does to cross a potential
difference of 1 volt.

Therefore
1 𝑒𝑉 = 1.6022 × 10−19 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒

1 𝑀𝑒𝑉 = 106 𝑒𝑉 = 1.6022 × 10−13 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒

Therefore the equivalent energy of m kg is

𝐸 = 𝑚 × (2.9979 × 108 )2 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒
𝐸 = 𝑚 × 8.9874 × 1016 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒
8.9874 × 1016
𝐸 =𝑚× 𝑒𝑉
1.6022 × 10−19
𝐸 = 𝑚 × 5.6095 × 1035 𝑒𝑉

∴ 𝐸 = 𝑚 × 5.6095 × 1029 𝑀𝑒𝑉

We know, One atomic mass (1 amu) is taken as one-twelfth (1/12) of the mass of carbon atom 6C12
and
1
1 𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢 = (𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 − 12 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚)
12
We know in 1 gm-atom the number of atoms is 6.022 × 1023 . This is known as Avogadro’s number.
So, in 12 gm Carbon there are 6.022 × 1023 atoms of Carbon.
So, the mass of a Carbon-12 atom

12
= = 1.99269 × 10−23 𝑔
6.022 × 1023
Thus, atomic mass unit
1
1 𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢 = × 1.99269 × 10−23 𝑔
12

1 𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢 = 1.66057 × 10−27 𝑘𝑔

1 𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢 = (1.66057 × 10−27 × 5.6095 × 1029 ) 𝑀𝑒𝑉

∴ 1 𝑎. 𝑚. 𝑢 = 931.5 𝑀𝑒𝑉

Radius of the nucleus: The size of the nucleus depends upon the number of protons and the number
of neutrons inside it. Thus the volume of a nucleus is directly proportional to the number of nucleons
contained in it, which is its mass number A.

If R is the nuclear radius, then 𝑉∝𝐴

Md. Matiur Rahman, Lecturer (Dept. of Medical Physics), KYAU

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 Modern Physics Lecture-2

4 3
𝜋𝑅 ∝ 𝐴
3
𝑅3 ∝ 𝐴
𝑅 ∝ 𝐴1/3
∴ 𝑅 = 𝑅0 𝐴1/3
Where 𝑅0 is a constant and 𝑅0 ≅ 1.2 × 10−15 𝑚.
Nuclei are so small that the unit of length appropriate in describing them is the femtometer (fm) equal
to 10−15 𝑚. The femtometer often called Fermi.

Thus the radius of the 27

13Al nucleus is

𝑅 = 1.2 × 10−15 × (27)1/3

∴ 𝑅 = 3.6 𝑓𝑚
Mass defect: Neutrons and protons together create a nucleus. So, the mass of a nucleus should be
equal to the mass of the protons and neutrons added together. But actually the mass of a nucleus is
little less than the mass of the protons and neutrons added together. The difference in mass is known
as mass defect. It is denoted by M.

Mathematically, ∆𝑀 = 𝑍𝑀𝑝 + (𝐴 − 𝑍)𝑀𝑛 − 𝑀

Where, Z = Number of protons

(A-Z) = Number of neutrons.
Mp = Mass of protons
Mn = Mass of neutrons
M = Mass of nucleus.
Binding energy: The energy equivalent to mass defect is called the binding energy of the nucleus. If
we want to break the nucleus into separate protons and neutrons, again we have to introduce the same
amount of energy that is lost during creation. The minimum amount of energy needed to break a
nucleus into its constituents neutrons and protons, is called the binding energy of the nucleus.
The relation between the binding energy and mass defect is given by
𝐵. 𝐸. = ∆𝑀𝐶 2
𝐵. 𝐸. = {𝑍𝑀𝑝 + (𝐴 − 𝑍)𝑀𝑛 − 𝑀}𝐶 2
If all masses are in atomic mass unit (a.m.u.) then
𝐵. 𝐸. = {𝑍𝑀𝑝 + (𝐴 − 𝑍)𝑀𝑛 − 𝑀} × 931.5 𝑀𝑒𝑉
The binding energy is always a positive quantity.

Nuclear reaction
When a nucleus gets in close contact with another nucleus, the incident particle and the target nucleus
form a composite system which is an excited state and after a short while a reaction is produced in
which the incident particle itself or some other particle or gamma ray is emitted with excess energy
and a resulting nucleus is obtained. This phenomenon is called a nuclear reaction.

A nuclear reaction can be written as

𝑎+𝑋 →𝑌+𝑏

Md. Matiur Rahman, Lecturer (Dept. of Medical Physics), KYAU

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 Modern Physics Lecture-2

𝑂𝑟 𝑋(𝑎, 𝑏)𝑌

Where, a is the incident particle

X is the target nucleus
Y is the residual product nucleus
b is the resulting or outgoing particle.
a and b are incident and outgoing particle respectively and these may be any one of the following:
1 2 4
Proton( 1H), Neutron( 10n), Deuteron( 1H), Alpha particle( 2He), Gamma ray(γ) or a few nucleons.
Examples:
Nuclear reaction Short form of Nuclear Reaction
14 4 17 1 14 ( 17
7N + 2He → 8O + 1H 7N α, p) 8O
6 2 7 1 6 ( 7
3Li + 1H → 4Be + 0n 3Li d, n) 4Be
35 1 32 4 35 ( 32
17Cl + 1H → 16S + 2He 17Cl p, n) 16S
10 4 13 1 10 ( 13
5B + 2He → 7N + 0n 5B α, n) 7N
14 1 13 2 14 ( 13
7N + 0n → 6C + 1H 7N n, d) 6C
26 1 27 ∗ 27 26 27
12Mg + 1H → ( 13Al) → 13Al +γ 12Mg (p, γ) 13Al

Nuclear fission and fusion reaction

Nuclear fission: If neutrons or gamma rays of definite speed strike a heavy nucleus (A>230) and
breaks the nucleus into two main parts, then a vast nuclear energy is released. This kind of breakup of
nucleus is called nuclear fission.
235
Let us consider the capture of neutron by a heavy nucleus 92U. The reaction can be represented as
235
92U + 10n → (236 ∗
92U) →
141
56Ba
92
+ 36Kr + 3 10n + Energy (≅ 200 MeV)
Nuclear fusion: More than one light nuclei are fused (or combined) together to form a single heavy
nucleus and produce enormous nuclear energy. This process is called nuclear fusion.
The reaction can be represented as
2
1H + 31H → 42He + 10n + Energy (≅ 17.6 MeV)
Differences between nuclear fission and fusion reaction: The differences between nuclear fission
and fusion reaction are given below:

Nuclear fission Nuclear fusion

In this process heavy nucleus is splitted into In this process lighter nuclei are combined
lighter nucleus. to produce heavy nucleus.
Energy released is large. Energy released is small.
235 239 2 3 4
92U, 94Pu nuclei are used. 1H, 1H, 2Henuclei are used.
In this process radioisotopes are produced. In this process radioisotopes are not
produced.
The link of the fission process is with The link of the fusion process is with
neutrons. protons.

Md. Matiur Rahman, Lecturer (Dept. of Medical Physics), KYAU

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 Modern Physics Lecture-2

1. i) 0 n 92 U 
1 235
236
92 
U 141
56 Ba 36 Kr 30 n  E1
92 1

ii) 12 H  12H  24 He  E2

92 U )  235.0439 amu
Where, M ( 235

56 Ba)  140.9139 amu

M (141

92
M ( 36 Kr)  91.8973 amu

M (12H )  2.01478 amu

M ( 24He)  4.00388 amu

M ( 01n)  1.0087 amu

Find E1 & E2 of Equations (I & II).

Md. Matiur Rahman, Lecturer (Dept. of Medical Physics), KYAU

Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] ; Website: royalworldbd.weebly.com
Mobile No.: 8801723349003