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Why nuclei become unstable

Why nuclei become unstable

N versus Z graph showing the line of stability, the N = Z line, and arrows for alpha, beta-minus, and beta-plus or electron capture decay A nucleus is stable only if the strong nuclear force can balance the electrostatic repulsion between protons. Plotting neutron number NNN against proton number ZZZ lets us see which combinations achieve that balance.

Nuclear instability (A-level only) Lesson

  1. A Level
  2. /Physics
  3. /Nuclear instability (A-level only)

Step-by-step lessons on AQA A Level Physics Nuclear instability (A-level only). Each one builds up to exam-style questions. Physics is one of the most mathematically demanding A Levels -- at least 40% of the marks require maths skills at Level 2 (GCSE) standard or above, so build calculation and graph-handling fluency alongside the conceptual content from the start.

Lessons