Nuclear physics

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Nuclear physics is the part of physics that studies the nucleus of the atom. Everything on the earth is made up of atoms; they are the smallest part of a chemical element that still has the properties of that specific element. When two or more atoms combine they create what we know as the molecule. Understanding the structure of atoms is key in studies such as physics, chemistry, biology, etc.

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[edit] Structure of the atom

Atoms are made up of electrons, neutrons, and protons. Where there is a cloud of electrons that surround the nucleus of neutrons and protons. The electrons and protons have a positive charge. Due to the charges in the atom, that is how the atom stays together, by attraction of the electric charges present in the atom. In the atom itself the nucleus takes up most of the mass, but not so much space in the atom. The electron cloud takes up the other space .

[edit] Properties of atoms

Atoms have different features that single out one atom from another, and show how each atom can change in different conditions. These properties include atomic number, mass number, atomic mass and weight, and isotopes.

[edit] Forces acting inside atoms

In an atom there are three fundamental forces that keep atoms together. electromagnetic force, strong force, and weak force. The electromagnetic force keeps the electrons attached to the atom. The strong force keeps the protons and neutrons together in the atom. The weak force controls how the atom decays.

[edit] Quantum atom

In the early 20th century scientists had problems explaining the behavior of atoms using their current knowledge of matter. So to deal with this they created a brand new way to view matter and energy, and they called it quantum theory. What quantum theory described was matter acting both as a particle but also as a wave.

[edit] Radiation of atoms

Atoms emit radiation when their electrons loose energy and drop down to lower orbitals. The difference in energy between the orbitals determines the wavelength of the given radiation. This radiation can be shown by visible light or shorter wavelengths.