Energetics of Nuclear Reactions

Reactions between an atomic nucleus and another particle are called nuclear reactions. In some such reactions, the nucleus is unchanged ( elastic scattering ), in others the original nucleus is excited to a higher energy state ( inelastic scattering ); in a third class new nuclei are formed ( nuclear transmutations ). Spontaneous nuclear transformations, which are involved in the radioactive decay of unstable nuclei, have been discussed in Chapter 5. In this chapter the emphasis is on the mass and energy relationships when a projectile interacts with a nucleus.