Page 565 - SUBSEC October 2017_Neat

UNIT 2
MODULE 3: ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS (cont’d)

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES EXPLANATORY NOTES SUGGESTED PRACTICAL
ACTIVITIES

3. Atomic Mass

Students should be able to:

3.1. define ‘mass defect’ and Nuclear Stability should be
‘binding energy’; mentioned. Refer to
Specific Objective 4.1.

3.2. calculate mass defect and Explanation of the
binding energy in eV or relevance of binding energy
joules; per nucleon to nuclear
fusion and to nuclear
fission.

3.3. use the relationship Include calculation of
between energy and mass in energy release in fission,
nuclear reactions fusion or nuclear decay.
2
ΔE = Δm c to solve
problems; Sketch a labelled diagram to
illustrate a chain reaction.

3.4. use the atomic mass unit Brief account of early
(u) as a unit of energy; theories of atomic
structure, including those of
Thomson, Bohr and
Rutherford, should
introduce this section.

3.5. represent graphically the Mention “Island of
relationship between instability”.
binding energy per nucleon
and nucleon number;

3.6. compare the values of Nuclear fusion is the
binding energy per nucleon process by which stars
when undergoing nuclear release energy and
fission or fusion; elements are made, for
example, H -> He.

CXC A16/U2/17 65