A Comprehensive Guide to Nuclear Physics: Concepts and Problems

This assignment delves into the fundamental concepts of nuclear physics, encompassing the structure of the nucleus, isotopes, and the properties of nuclear forces. It explores atomic mass units, mass-energy equivalence, and the size and composition of the nucleus. The document elaborates on nuclear binding energy, mass defect, and binding energy per nucleon, along with their implications. It also discusses radioactive decay, including alpha, beta, and gamma decay, the law of radioactive decay, half-life, and average life. Furthermore, it provides examples of nuclear reactions, including calculations of released energy in alpha decay and details about beta decay processes. The assignment includes important past-year questions and their solutions, enhancing understanding of key topics and problem-solving skills.