Nuclear and Particle Physics Practice Flashcards

A set of fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering the structure of the nucleus, atomic mass scales, isotopes, and fundamental particles/forces based on the Chapter 12 lecture notes.

By the end of the 1960s, physicists confirmed the existence of even smaller constituents of matter called __________.

quarks

The nucleus of the simplest atom, hydrogen, is called a __________.

protium

The existence of the neutron was pointed out in 1932 by __________.

James Chadwick

Protons and neutrons are collectively referred to as __________.

nucleons

The symbol __________ represents the atomic number, which is the number of protons in a nucleus.

$$Z$$

The total number of nucleons in a nucleus is represented by the symbol __________ and is called the atomic mass number.

$$A$$

The relationship between the mass number, neutron number, and atomic number is written as __________.

$$A = N + Z$$

By definition, the unified mass scale unit ($u$) is exactly one twelfth the mass of a __________ atom.

carbon-12

One unified mass unit ($1u$) is equivalent to __________ $kg$, which can also be expressed as $931\,MeV$.

$$1.6606 \times 10^{-27}$$

The mass of a neutron is approximately __________ $u$.

$$1.008665$$

Nuclei that contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are called __________.

isotopes

While ${}^{12}C$ and ${}^{13}C$ are stable, the isotope __________ is unstable and decays into nitrogen.

$${}^{14}C$$

Particles with masses mostly between the electron mass and nucleon mass are known as __________.

mesons

The four fundamental forces constant in nature are Gravitational force, Electromagnetic force, Weak nuclear force, and __________.

strong nuclear force

The __________ is the weakest of the four fundamental forces.

Gravitational force