Nuclear binding energy

[Kerry Parker and Andy Price]

Kia ora Colleagues

I have been troubled for a while by the frequent misconceptions my students have shown when discussing unstable nuclei.  They get very muddled up between unstable nuclei (that are radioactive) and the less stable nuclei as shown on the nuclear binding energy curve.

It all boils down (well, not literally!) to the fact that I haven't really taught them about nuclear stability.  I have taught them nothing about nuclear forces and particle physics and I am feeling that I am doing them a diservice.  I am very keen to find out what colleagues in other schools teach, there is precious little in the texts that are geared to NCEA.  

I was browsing Wikipedia the other day and found http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binding_energy a really straightforward explanation for the binding energy curve that I am thinking that all our level 3 students should understand.  For me it  makes it all make sense.    Is it just me?

Kerry

The Correspondence School
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