Physics HL

Chapter 23: Nuclear Physics

Build Chapter 23 from nuclear notation and mass defect to radioactive decay law, strong-force evidence, and stability-band reasoning with energy-level interpretation.

1 simulation entries

Simulation: Mass Defect and Binding-Energy Curve Explorer

Select benchmark isotopes and compare free-nucleon mass, measured mass, mass defect, total binding energy, and position on a binding-energy trend curve.

Appears in: 23.1 Nuclear Notation, Mass Defect, and Binding Energy, 23.2 Radioactive Decay Modes and Radiation Properties, 23.3 Radioactive Decay Law, Activity, and Half-Life, 23.4 Nuclear Radii, Strong-Force Evidence, and Closest Approach, 23.5 Nuclear Stability, Binding-Energy Trends, and Nuclear Energy Levels

Link nucleus composition, binding-energy trends, decay statistics, and strong-force evidence in one chapter workspace.

56FeZ = 26, N = 30Free nucleonsBound nucleusMass defect = 0.5285 ucurve referencebinding-energy trend

Mass defect

0.5285 u

Binding energy

492.3 MeV

Binding per nucleon

8.790 MeV

Atomic mass

55.934936 u