One Important Man

Albert Einstein is as enigmatic as the concept of nuclear power. Good, bad or indifferent, both the man and the concept generate strong opinions and endless debate.

Radioactivity

Many nuclei are unstable, mainly because the ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus is NOT in the "zone of stability" which we will discuss. These unstable isotopes are called radioisotopes, and become stable by emitting various combinations of particle and/or energy. Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation produce different amounts and kinds of damage in matter and have different penetrations.Three most common forms of radioactive decay (alpha, beta, and gamma) and know how the nucleus changes in each type of decay.

Nuclear Forces

One of the intriguing questions confronting scientists in the early 20th century was how the nucleus remained together, since protons possessed a positive charge. Thus they should repel each other with a tremendous force, since they were so close together in the very small nucleus. Experiments and thinking about this problem resulted in the development of the concept of the strong nuclear force. This idea, coupled with the discovery of the zone of stability, eventually helped explain radioactivity, and very soon, the potential for the concept of fission and fusion.

Nuclear Half-Life

All radioisotopes have a measurable characteristic called half-life, which is the time needed for one-half of the substance to decay radioactively. Interestingly, half-life is a continuing phenomenon in that at any given point in time or remaining mass, the half-life is relevant. As you watch the following video, be sure and understand how to calculate the amount of a radioactive material remaining or the intensity of the radioactivity as a function of time.

HALF-LIFE

Chemistry Tutorial 3.03b Solving Half Life Problems

Nuclear Fission

Nuclear fission is the SPLITTING of selected isotopes (U-235 and Pu-239) to release large amounts of energy.

One of the most useful, yet controversial, factors involving nuclear energy is the construction and operation of nuclear reactors. Nuclear reactors are used mostly to produce electricity, but there are other uses for reactors.