Learn about Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Energy, and the Periodic Table of Elements

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The fabled "philosopher's stone" of centuries-old alchemy was always right under our noses—but it wasn't found through chemistry. Nuclear physics shows how one atom can change into another and how some stars are just supersized nuclei. Grab a radiation suit and get ready to go nuclear.

Presented by Lawrence Weinstein

00:00 What is Nuclear Physics?
05:37 Nuclear Physicists' Periodic Table
08:22 Rutherford and Soddy Discover Thorium Chain
08:54 Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Decay at Very Different Rates
09:37 Earth's Geology Relies on Slow Rates of Decay
12:06 Marie Curie Discovers Atom Thorium
12:33 20th Century Was the Year of Nuclear Physics
13:30 The Difference Between Particle and Nuclear Physics
16:31 Nuclear Waste Moves Toward the Valley of Stability
21:30 Pauli Exclusion Principle Keeps Atoms From Ghosting
22:53 The Fundamental Forces Nuclear Physics Use

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#NuclearPhysics #NuclearEnergy #NuclearMedicine

[antoniocalhau]

One of the great things about most of The Great Courses (TGC) lectures that I have seen so far, like this one, is that professors, like Professor Lawrence Weinstein, Ph.D. here, bind all the concepts involved together in great talks, you get to see the whole picture, the tree and the forest. When I was in college, we did the calculations, I took tests, exams, finals, but never really had the chance to see things like this, in a holistic way. And TGC do all this in all its courses consistently. I would say that all universities should have this for people to be able to follow up, and to be more connected! Not to mention that we can always revisit these lectures over and over again, for example in search of inspiration, to research any particular topic. They help us to go from the tree to the forest back and forth all the time consistently!

[s.koileken]

I intended to watch this video for 20 min. but ended up pressing repeat several times til 1, 5 hours had gone. Thanks for putting together a complex subject and presenting it with clarity without unnecessary use of scientific jargon.

[kerrykole]

Amazing video. I love the topic but can sometimes zone out to some speakers on the topic. This speaker is very engaging and easy to follow. Great stuff

[rudihoffman]

I’ve never seen a great courses series I didn’t actually LOVE! I have happily paid for these in the past, but to have them free (actually sponsored) is fabulous! You folks are wonderful.

[patricks_music]

This is amazing. I love science and never realized what nuclear science actually is

[JDs_RandomHandle]

I was confused about fusion for years until I met a friend of a friend who worked in nuclear and explained the extra detail that is left out of almost all conversation when it comes to nuclear including this video.
My confusion is that if energy is released from splitting atoms or fission then by law of conservation of energy it doesn't make sense that energy is released from combining atoms in fusion. The answer is that by combining unstable tritium which is an isotope of hydrogen with extra neutrons, the extra neutrons are ejected releasing energy while the helium created is a stable nucleus. Hope this helps anyone else with this confusion.

[henrik]

This is a great video. Deserves recognition

[AaronSchwarz]

Studying this video over & over until I could repeat every line in my sleep & have wild dreams about improved reactor designs & ways to innovate nuclear energy to make a real positive difference in the world to bring other people clean sustainable abundant energy technology that can make electricity 24/7 for 10 billion people for thousands of years. #Nuclear #Energy #NuclearEnergy the future of all energy!

[Jim_]

Humanity’s rejection of Nuclear power was a massive mistake, and the environment has payed dearly for it as we continue to rely on fossil fuels for our electricity

[georgietwitchett]

I understand what's going on, but this guy takes the cake, he knows how to explain everything in a muddled way, if you know what I mean !!

[omsingharjit]

Is it possible to replace Electrons of H or He to Anti proton . Since both has same charge it should take e place with closer Orbit to its Nuclues ?

[kinggrooms]

This is a very well put together video and easy to understand

[VManiac]

So if i'm understanding this correctly, nuclear radiation (like with nuclear waste) and the damage that it causes appears to come from the antiparticles that come with B- decay. And those anti-particles colliding with the atoms in your body is what causes these problems that come with radiation sickness. Would that be a correct understanding or a partially correct understanding?

[danielyang]

Thanks for sharing, can't believe i finished it!

[premkumar]

Convincing explanation, great content well put. Thanks

[AlexBailey-ck]

I am self taught in physics, astrophysics and stellar physics for 20 years

[omsingharjit]

I Would like to see how Each a b y Radiation release by WNF in detail

[GCSEPhysicsExplained]

Great video! Keep up the great content

[shores]

I'm bored so I am deciding to learn all about nuclear physics even reading a pdf from Stanford so thanks for the help

[cerulyse]

going to try out the Amazon version of TGC Ithink, looks like good value