ConceptModern Physics
← All conceptsNuclear physics
nucleons/isotopes (same Z, different N), α/β/γ decay and penetrating power, nuclear-equation balancing (conserve mass number A and charge Z), half-life (independent of temperature/environment), fission/fusion
11 ways this goes wrong. Each one is a named misconception the questions are built to catch.
- Alpha most penetratingRanks α radiation as more penetrating than β or γ, reversing the penetration order.→
- Beta charge not conservedForgets the β particle's -1 charge when balancing Z, so the daughter nucleus gets the wrong atomic number.→
- Beta decay emits a protonTreats β-minus decay as ejecting a proton rather than an electron from a neutron-to-proton conversion.→
- Decay rate constant in timeTreats the number of decays per second as constant rather than decreasing with the remaining sample.→
- Fission/fusion swappedConfuses fission (splitting heavy nuclei) with fusion (joining light nuclei).→
- Gamma decay changes A or ZBelieves γ emission changes the mass or atomic number, when it only releases energy.→
- Half-life depends on amount/environmentThinks half-life changes with the quantity of sample, temperature, or chemical environment.→
- Half-life implies linear decayAssumes the substance fully decays in two half-lives, treating decay as linear rather than exponential.→
- Isotopes differ in protonsDefines isotopes as atoms with different proton numbers rather than different neutron numbers.→
- Neutron count miscountedComputes the neutron number as A, or as Z, instead of N = A - Z.→
- Nuclear equation not balancedFails to conserve mass number A and/or atomic number Z across a decay equation.→
