nuclear physics - How can a helium nucleus be lighter than the four ...
Feb 3, 2025 · 6 Neutrons have slightly more mass than protons. When 4 hydrogen protons fuse into a helium atom (2 protons and 2 neutrons), why does the helium atom have slightly less mass? I …
nuclear physics - What makes the number of neutrons the number of ...
Apr 4, 2017 · In basic chemistry, we are taught that an atom has roughly the same number of neutrons and number of protons, this doesn't seems to hold for larger atoms, but it is always roughly …
What is difference between fast neutrons and thermal neutrons?
Jul 15, 2020 · Neutrons which have reached thermal equilibrium with a cryogenic moderator, or so-called "ultra-cold neutrons" (which are usually produced in a superthermal process) will tend to …
Can there be an atomic nucleus where there are more protons than …
Oct 6, 2019 · 22 As far as I know, number of protons is less that or equal to the number of neutrons in any atomic nucleus. But is there any possibility that there exists a nucleus where the number of …
neutrons - How can a nuclear chain reaction start? - Physics Stack …
Mar 27, 2021 · Free neutrons can be produced by a process called "nuclear spallation", I'd start there. The process happens in the atmosphere when high-energy protons collide with nuclei (cosmic ray …
Protons and neutrons inside neutron stars? [duplicate]
Jan 7, 2024 · There should be, yes. Neutrons naturally beta decay to protons, electrons and antineutrinos. If you had pure neutron matter, some neutrons would decay. But if the electron …
nuclear physics - Why is nitrogen (with 7 protons and 7 neutrons) so ...
Feb 1, 2021 · 21 Having an even number of neutrons and/or an even number of protons tends to make a nucleus more stable against radioactive decay. There are only 5 stable nuclei with both an odd …
Why is a nuclei with too many neutrons unstable? [duplicate]
Apr 12, 2018 · Neutrons decay with a mean life of ~15 minutes. Within a nucleus the strong interaction can bind the neutron to a proton, with a binding energy analogous to the energy levels of the atomic …
Why doesn't a nucleus-like body made up of just neutrons exist?
May 17, 2022 · 82 We know that neutrons exert short ranged nuclear forces over other nucleons in a nucleus, and these forces are only attractive in nature. Also this force is universal and doesn't …
Why is water a good neutron absorber? - Physics Stack Exchange
Jan 8, 2023 · I've seen this question asked multiple times, and the answer is never detailed. I initially assumed that either hydrogen or oxygen had relatively large neutron absorption cross sections, …