Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
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NUCLEAR PHYSICS
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Subject: Physics
Class: SHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 1
Grade code: 1.4.2.LI.1
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 1.4.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.4.2.LI.1
Theme: ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PH YSICS
Subtheme: NUCLEAR PHYSICS
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This lesson introduces the fundamental principles of nuclear reactions. Unlike chemical reactions that involve electrons, nuclear reactions involve changes within the nucleus of an atom, often releasing tremendous amounts of energy. Understanding these reactions is crucial in our modern world. In Ghana, this knowledge helps us understand applications like medical treatments for cancer at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the work of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) in food preservation and research, and the ongoing national conversation about using nuclear power to solve our "dumsor" challenges and power our industries.
A. The Atomic Nucleus: A Quick Recap
Before we balance reactions, let's remember what a nucleus is. It's the dense centre of an atom containing protons and neutrons. Protons: Positively charged particles. Neutrons: Neutral (no charge) particles. Nucleons: A collective name for protons and neutrons.
We represent a specific nucleus (or nuclide) using the following notation: $$ ^A_Z X $$ Where: X is the chemical symbol of the element (e.g., C for Carbon, U for Uranium). A is the Mass Number (or nucleon number). It is the total number of protons and neutrons (A = Z + N). Z is the Atomic Number (or proton number). It is the number of protons. This number defines the element.
Example: Carbon-14 is written as $^{14}_6 C$. This tells us it has: Z = 6 protons (so it is Carbon). A = 14 nucleons in total. Number of neutrons (N) = A - Z = 14 - 6 = 8 neutrons. B. What is a Nuclear Reaction?