Nuclear Definition and 997 Threads

I couldn't find an compatible heading for this question and decided to place it here since it deals with nuclear engineering, sort of. From the documentary movie, Trinity and Beyond, which is a history of the American nuclear weapons program, it seems that high atmosphere nuclear detonations...

This fall I'll receive my B.S. in Physics. I have a 3.46 gpa and have done research at my home university and an REU. I know I am competing with actual Nuclear Engineering majors. How screwed am I and what small universities that have a nuclear engineering program may I have a shot at?

4Be8 + 0n1 → 3Li7 +2 0n1 Can we use above reaction for the production of neutrons? Is it possible to obtain a sustainable chain reaction when using Be as fuel?

I have a question about symmetry energy in semi-empirical mass formula, According to semi-empirical mass formula as follows: E=avA-asA2/3-acZ(Z-1)/A1/3-asym(N-Z)2/A why in the symmetry energy only squared parameter symmetry are exist and there is not the first power of asymmetry parameter?

Hello, I'm new to this board. I have a engineering question about the coolant pumps used to maintain reactors. I have been studying the basics of a PWR. I notice the pumps are fed mostly by electricity. While I see the logic and efficiency of that..I am left wondering why the space on...

I am a high school sophomore, and a year-long project for my engineering class involves a series of five or six interview questions with a nuclear engineer. I don't know if this is in the right category, but please reply if you can help. The file is attached to prove my point.

So I should be graduating next year with an AA, BS in Physics, minor in math ~3.4/3.6gpa. GRE 55% verbal 87% qualitative 4 in writing with a Physics GRE score of 710 (~55%). Undergrad research along with an REU. I can probably retake the GRE as I have another year of undergrad left. With this...

In high school, we calculated the reaction-energy by equating the mass difference and the energy difference with proportionality factor c². How does Einstein's theory of relativity suddenly enter nuclear physics? It startles me because both fields developped historically completely divergent...

Hi Just a quick question that I have been wondering about ... how do nucleons fill energy levels, and what is the maximum number of nucleons that can occupy each level? The given pattern is: 1s, 1p, 1d, 2s, 1f, 2p, 1g, etc I can see no obvious pattern here. Can anyone explain? I...

I have twin sons who are interested in Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering. I want them to follow their interests, but I am concerned they will not be able to find jobs. Would majoring in a different branch on engineering, such as mechanical, chemical, or with a minor in aerospace or nuclear be a...

Hi, I'm doing some coursework on nuclear fusion, and am trying to calculate the energy released by fusing a tritium and a deuterium atom together. I used the equation: ( Σ mass (reactants) - Σ mass (products) ) x 931.5 MeV/amu = Binding energy. and Deuterium + Tritium = Helium +...

Not sure if this is a cosmology or standard model question , but here it goes. If the repelling force caused by inflationary cosmology were strong enough (perhaps down the line a few hundred quadrillion years from now or so) to begin to create space in between quarks, will the strong nuclear...

I'm currently an undergraduate in electrical engineering. There aren't any nuclear engineering programs in my state, but I'm highly considering getting a graduate degree in nuclear engineering following my undergraduate degree, because it's very interesting to me. However, I'm wondering...

I understand what nuclear binding energy is and its importance in nuclear weaponry an the fueling of stars, but why, in other types of bonds, such as chemical bonds, Einstein's equation e=mc2 is not applied and the bonding of two substances is not assumed to have energy as mass? But when an...

Whenever people begin to explain the nuclear strong force, they relate it to electricity. I was wondering if color charges, besides also interacting with one another in a way that's analogous to electricity, can also interact in a way that's analogous to magnetism. I have asked some professors...

Hi everyone, I'm an engineer and not a physicist, so forgive me if something sounds stupid. Question: Is it possible to know, which way products of nuclear fission (u-235) will go? Imagine a sheet of single (or few) atom layer crystal of U-235, that is irradiated by neutron source from...

I had an interesting idea for increasing the Specific Impulse and Thrust of a nuclear rocket engine; it's probably not practical - best case scenario 20% increase in exhaust velocity, with proportional increase in thrust, at the cost of 1.5x to 2x weight increase, and likely much lower - but I...

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory used the NIF ( National Ignition Facility ) laser to reach encouraging progress toward ignition From "The Independent" newpaper serving Livermore: http://www.independentnews.com/news/article_792110c0-2c5b-11e3-846e-001a4bcf887a.html...

Hi everyone, I am about to go to basic training before going in as a Nuke. I was hoping if I could get some answers to a few questions I have. What is the life like in A school? How long is the school and how much time do you have for other things like working out? What are the major...

I read that nuclear binding energy is the energy required to separate a nucleus into its comprising nucleons. Why then is mass defect calculated from this? How is the nuclear binding energy graph used to calculate energy released from fusion? Please explain in layman's terms, if you could...

My physics buddy and I have been having a debate. I was claiming that even under the natural Earth's magnetic field that with good signal to noise ratio based on the radar systems scaled appropriately the top layers of the Earth could be seen. He claimed that the signal to noise ratio of the T1...

Homework Statement Question wants you to a) find the difference between Egamma and the excitation energy of the nucleus due to the fact that the nucleus recoils. (using approximation that Egamma is small relative to nucleus mass. other parts are simple if I can get a)Homework Equations...

Can anyone say how close we are to obtaining a workable nuclear fusion generating plant? I understand the largest trial is being built in France (albeit with many delays apparently) Does anyone have any understanding as to what the best guess is to this technology being available to the...

Part 1 can be found here: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=480200 Magnitude-5.3 earthquake hits Japan's Fukushima http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/19/japan-fukushima-nuclear-plant/2835493/

Anybody know of any nuclear engineering graduate programs where I can study advanced reactor designs and fuels. I would like to research liquid fluoride thorium reactors. I was looking at NC State but I don't see anything on their that suggest they have any research in those areas.

Hello, I am a student in physics engineering and I would like to work as a nuclear engineering later on in my career but we don't have a proper atomic and nuclear physics concentration in my program. We have optics, aerospace engineering and materials science that come as close candidates as a...

Hello PFers! I am currently a Junior in HighSchool and I am extremely interested in Nuclear Science. My mentality is to prepare for things in advance as soon as possible, so I would love to know some things that I can research and do that would give me a head start and basic...

Hi! I am extremely confused on what seems to be quite a simple question. The question contains a graph of root mean square radius <r^{2}> plotted against A^{1/3} where A is the nucleon number. In the lecture notes he specifies that <r^{2}> is not the same as R but does not really say...

For an Ap Physics Homework assignment our teacher had us calculate the Nuclear Strong Force for a Helium nucleus with a diameter of 2 femtometers. However, the intention was to calculate the nuclear strong force by assuming that the nucleus is intact, in such a case the particles would not be...

I know the Fuel Rods are 12 Feet long Tubes made of Zirconium Alloy. And they fill them with Uranium Oxide Pellets. And the Control Rods are inserted inbetween them to slow down the reaction. And the Control Rods are made of Boron. But is the Control Rods Tubes filled with Boron...

Let's say the town is a coastal town. How long would the radiation remain? Would there be any fallout comparable to nuclear winter? How would the ocean be affected?

In the fusion of hydrogen to give helium, some protons get converted into neutrons. As a proton and neutron have no electrostatic force of repulsion between them, the potential energy between the two protons is released in the form of gamma rays(ultimately). Also part of the energy is used to...

I wonder How broad is nuclear engineering? Is nuclear engineering in high demand? Should I take EECS and ME to enrich my engineering skills? I'd like to get a BA in Business and a BS in NE. Which areas of nuclear engineering (energy, nuclear medicine, nuclear materials ...) will make my...

Hello forum. So the other day I was pondering properties of atomic nucleus, in particular the property of binding energy (mass defect). Whenever a nucleus -- through a nuclear reaction of some sort -- is split or joined into a more stable nucleus, energy is released. However the newly formed...

So what do you guys think of yucca mountain as a permanent waste site?

I'm currently a junior in high-school and am looking to narrow down my options for colleges by major. I want to work with nuclear energy as a career and am conflicted as to what majors or academic path I should take. I specifically want to work with fusion on things such as the ITER Project and...

Would the antimatter explosion still make a fireball and thus a blast wave ? If so, then how will the fireball form in this case ? I mean, matter and antimatter annihilation produce very energetic pions, muons and gamma rays and some other particles after decaying depending of course on which...

why do we say that nuclear mass distribution and nuclear charge distribution follows the same function while nucleus has both charged and uncharged particles?

Homework Statement Explain why deuterium cannot undergo ##\beta## decay or produce a stable nucleus while tritium can. Homework Equations Deuterium : ##{^2_1}{H}## Tritium : ##{^3_1}{H}## The Attempt at a Solution Observe the negative ##\beta## decay of deuterium : $${^2_1}{H}...

I have questions regarding nuclear fusion: 1: Can all atoms fuse, say a hydrogen and carbon atom, could they fuse? or does it need to be the same type of atoms. 2: Are there any equations that determine the force needed to fuse? I'd think it'd have to do with x and x2 number of protons...

1. Question : Use the Semi Empirical Mass Formula to estimate the energy released in the spontaneous fission reaction; 235/92 Uranium -----> 87/35 Bromine + 145/57 Lanthanum + 3n 2. Equations used : (i). Δm = m(reactants) - m(products) (ii). E = mc^2 (iii). u = atomic mass unit 3...

Why can't the Sun (or any star) fuse elements higher than iron? Could anyone provide a technical answer? Thanks!

I've heard this expression in nuclear physics: the "island of stability." I know it has to do with the stability of a heavy transuranium atom (at least i think so), but what precisely does that expression mean? And what does it have to do with quantum mechanics? Why is this "island" there...

i want to become the physicist behind nuclear engineering or electrical engineering i want to study how particles and electrons work , how the nucleus work , but still i don't want to become someone studying something that has nothing to do with reality or someone who just applies knowledge...

I am an aeronautical engineer and I am curious why do NE's design the reactor smokestacks to be shaped like elongated rocket nozzles? In general, the nozzle shape offers less drag and a cleaner exit of the flow upstream and downstream from the nozzle exit. In supersonic flow, the nozzle shape is...

Do nuclear plants shut down during a tornado warning? I have heard that they do but really can't think why.

Hi all, just to point out that I am a lay person as far as physics go, but thought that perhaps someone here can help me! While in St. Petersburg recently I went to a flea market and purchased the ship's compass from a Soviet Submarine. Not exactly sure from which sub or when it was built...

Hello I have a 2 more years planning ahead before I choose my major, however I like to plan ahead so I've come up with some questions. I've been considering studying nuclear engineering as my major degree when the time has come, and I wonder how the career opportunity is for working with...

Anybody know of a good nuclear reactor engineering text? I'm specifically looking for something involving thermal hydraulics of reactors, something along the lines of nuclear heat transport by el wakil

Hello, I am entering my final year of a top 5 nuclear engineering program. My problem is that at this moment, I haven't exactly found my particular niche within nuclear engineering. The nuclear field is very broad and an undergraduate education includes a little bit of every other engineering...