Free ebookNuclear Physics and Radioactivity Basics: What Happens Inside the Nucleus

Course Description

Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity Basics: What Happens Inside the Nucleus is a practical introduction to how atomic nuclei are built, why some are stable, and how radioactive change releases energy. Designed for basic studies in physics, this free ebook course helps you move from core ideas to real-world understanding of radiation, nuclear energy, and everyday applications.

You will build a clear foundation around nucleons, isotopes, and nuclear notation, then connect those concepts to the nuclear forces that hold nuclei together. By exploring binding energy, mass defect, and the stability landscape, you will learn how physicists explain why certain nuclides persist while others transform. The course develops your intuition for radioactive transformations and the rules that govern decay, so you can confidently interpret common nuclear statements in science articles, lab reports, and safety guidance.

Progressively, you will see how alpha decay relates to heavy nuclei and energy release, how beta decay involves neutrinos and changes between neutrons and protons, and how gamma emission reflects nuclear energy levels. You will also learn to work with half-life, the decay law, activity, and the units used in radioactivity, giving you practical tools to read measurements and compare sources. The course links theory to how radiation interacts with matter through ionization, energy loss, and shielding logic, supporting better reasoning about exposure and protection.

To bridge physics with measurement, the ebook explains detecting radiation using counting statistics and detector principles, helping you understand what a detector can and cannot tell you. You will also gain a grounded view of fission, chain reactions, neutrons, and reactor basics, alongside fusion in light nuclei, the conditions required, and the energy considerations involved. Finally, you will connect nuclear physics foundations to applications and limits in medicine, energy, and radiometric dating, with a focus on responsible interpretation rather than hype.

Start this course today to strengthen your physics fundamentals and gain a clear, useful understanding of nuclear processes and radioactivity.