of its mass and holds the keys to understanding the fundamental forces of the universe. 1. The Building Blocks: Protons and Neutrons
) Decay: Emission of a helium nucleus (2 protons, 2 neutrons). Beta ( Nuclear Physics: Exploring the Heart of Matter
One of the most profound discoveries in nuclear physics is that the mass of a nucleus is actually less than the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. This "missing mass" is known as the . According to Einstein’s equation, of its mass and holds the keys to
) Decay: A neutron turns into a proton (or vice-versa), emitting an electron or positron. Gamma ( Beta ( One of the most profound discoveries
The splitting of a heavy nucleus (like Uranium-235) into smaller fragments. This process releases a massive amount of energy and is the foundation of current nuclear power plants.
Sterilization of medical equipment and smoke detection.
This is the most powerful force in nature, acting like a "glue" that binds nucleons together. It has a very short range (