HUNTERTUTORING

Nuclear physics

Undergraduate · Physics

Syllabus focus

Standard syllabus · STEM / applied

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$60.00 · 60 min · Undergraduate · Online ($60/hr)

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Topics typically covered

Standard syllabus

Nuclear properties

  • Liquid-drop and shell models
  • Binding energy and semi-empirical mass formula
  • Radioactive decay modes: α, β, γ
  • Decay chains and secular equilibrium
  • Cross sections and reaction notation

Reactions and applications

  • Nuclear fission and chain reactions
  • Fusion conditions and stellar nucleosynthesis
  • Nuclear reactors and moderation
  • Accelerators and beam optics basics
  • Medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals

Radiation and detection

  • Interaction of radiation with matter
  • Geiger–Müller, scintillator, and semiconductor detectors
  • Dosimetry units: gray, sievert, becquerel
  • Shielding design and ALARA principles
  • Statistics of counting experiments

STEM / applied

Energy and security

  • Reactor kinetics and control rods
  • Waste storage and reprocessing debates
  • Nonproliferation and safeguards overview
  • Thorium cycles and small modular reactors
  • Radiation monitoring in public health

Experimental nuclear labs

  • γ spectroscopy with NaI or HPGe
  • Half-life determination experiments
  • Neutron activation analysis intro
  • Coincidence counting techniques
  • Radiation safety certification practices

Interdisciplinary links

  • PET isotope production pathways
  • Cosmic ray spallation on Earth
  • Archaeological dating with carbon-14
  • Space radiation effects on electronics
  • Connecting nuclear data tables to simulation

Notes

Topics reflect common upper-division physics syllabi at US colleges and universities. Prerequisites, lab pairing, and mathematical depth vary by department.