Nuclear Physics Challenge | Space Time | PBS Digital Studios

Are you ready for some recreational nuclear physics?

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On this episode of Space Time, we dive into a Challenge Question about Nuclear Physics. This includes traveling back into the phenomenon of Quantum Tunneling and discussing the most radioactive element on the periodic table; Polonium. Let’s get started.

Written and hosted by Matt O’Dowd

Challenge Answers

Make sure you use the subject title “Nuclear Physics Challenge” to be in the running.

[douugggg]

You guys NEED to do more videos like this. Your videos are really good to learn, but we need to test all that knowledge, so we can fix it.

[ericmcclure]

ever since I've found this channel, I can't stop watching these videos. thank you!

[TheEvilVargon]

"Recreational nuclear physics"

[WeeWeeJumbo]

Take Polonium. *Wait no don't take it*

[DarkOps]

wait wait wait. You don't actually think we are smart do you? We watch these videos because you are smart...

we rely on you to tell us the answers to these crazy things.

[joen]

What if these challenge questions are really his physics homework and he's just using us to do it for him?

[gaminglab]

Wow props to PBS. First time on YouTube I was actually forced to google some of that stuff and figure out my answer as to just type it out half brain dead and get it right. As a new comer to PBS I haven't watched many of previous episodes and it really did leave me scratching my head for about 10 good minutes. GG WP

[mfaizsyahmi]

Recreational nuclear physics? Are we going to smoke polonium-212? And did I hear the words half-life and 3 in the same sentence?

[brockobama]

THANK YOU an easier question, i thought this would be some more of that "moment after recombination" type stuff

[zengalileo]

This series has made me a student again. I am now preparing to go back to school, starting with high math, and would like to get a BA at least, perhaps in physics, astronomy or cosmology. I am 48, but fuck it. I love this shit. Thank you to all who create this show!

[ChrizoPrime]

Whenever one of these Spacetime challenges are posted, I am reminded of how my business calculus courses in college were a poor preparatory regime for these sorts of problems...

[eldizo_]

The last time I was this early "The last time I was this early" jokes weren't even made.

[thomasr.jackson]

Behind in the viewing curve here: re the quantum tunneling video, the inferno entry experiment was clever and the results intriguing. One question not addressed: what about multiple tunneling barriers in sequence? Wouldn't that stretch the velocity effects? Would it stretch them beyond the uncertainty limits of the initial light beam?
You said that you planned to revisit some of the issues brought up in that video. I hope this might come up as well.

Great series! Thanks for all the hard work, and the challenging engagement!

[legendaryzero]

By the way, I am a highschool student and I love all of your videos. They make me learn more than the lessons at school. They also aspire me to become an Astrophysicist someday. One of my suggestions for this channel is to effectively explain the hard stuffs including the math stuffs about spacetime.

[Ficonator]

Yeah i got tired from studying for my exam tommorrow because i couldnt figure out some problems so i took a short break for some Youtube
first thing i stumble across in my sub box is another problem i cant solve, thx for the timeing PBS

[connor]

I don't ever participate in these challenges but I always look forward to seeing the answer.

[razielm]

i play Quantum Moves after watching every video of PBS space time :)

[matttilford]

That was the best use of the phrase "recreational nuclear physics" that I will ever see

[jonnull]

I've been really enjoying Matt's presentation and naration style. Looking forward to seeing much more from this channel.

[chrisv]

So, doesn't the recent confirmation of asymmetrical, pear-shaped nuclei kind of ruin most of our working theories insofar as atomic and quantum physics is concerned?