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# Nuclear Physics Cheatsheet ## Basic Concepts - Nuclear physics is the study of the properties and behavior of atomic nuclei. - Nuclear physics is an interdisciplinary field that combines physics, chemistry, and engineering. - Applications of nuclear physics include nuclear power, nuclear medicine, and nuclear weapons. ## Atomic Nuclei - Atomic nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons, collectively known as nucleons. - The number of protons in a nucleus determines the element, while the number of neutrons determines the isotope. - The strong nuclear force is the force that binds nucleons together in a nucleus. ## Nuclear Reactions - Nuclear reactions involve changes to the composition of atomic nuclei. - Nuclear reactions can be induced by bombarding nuclei with particles or photons. - Nuclear reactions can release or absorb energy, depending on the reactants and products. ## Radioactivity - Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of particles or photons from atomic nuclei. - Radioactivity can be alpha decay, beta decay, or gamma decay, depending on the type of particle or photon emitted. - The half-life is the time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to decay. ## Nuclear Energy - Nuclear energy is the energy released by nuclear reactions. - Nuclear power plants use nuclear reactions to generate electricity. - Nuclear weapons use nuclear reactions to release large amounts of energy in a short time. ## Nuclear Medicine - Nuclear medicine is the use of radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. - Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) are imaging techniques that use radioactive tracers. - Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to treat cancer. ## Nuclear Astrophysics - Nuclear astrophysics is the study of the nuclear reactions that power stars and other celestial objects. - Stellar nucleosynthesis is the process by which elements are formed in stars. - Supernova explosions can release large amounts of energy and create heavy elements. ## Resources - [Nuclear physics on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_physics) - [Nuclear Physics: Principles and Applications by John Lilley](https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Nuclear+Physics%3A+Principles+and+Applications-p-9780471979364) - [Physical Review C](https://journals.aps.org/prc/) (journal)