Directed by The Great Courses

Lawrence Weinstein

Taught by Professor Lawrence Weinstein of Old Dominion University, this course explains the science, history, hazards, applications, and latest advances in nuclear physics. You learn the principles of radioactivity, how nuclear bombs and reactors work, the uses of radiation for cancer treatment and medical imaging, what makes some forms of radiation dangerous, plus you tour a linear accelerator

Rated TVPG

Mode of access: World Wide Web

Episode 1

A Tour of the Nucleus and Nuclear Forces

Episode 2

Curve of Binding Energy: Fission and Fusion

Episode 3

Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Decay

Episode 4

Radiation Sources, Natural and Unnatural

Episode 5

How Dangerous Is Radiation?

Episode 6

The Liquid-Drop Model of the Nucleus

Episode 7

The Quantum Nucleus and Magic Numbers

Episode 8

Particle Accelerators: Schools of Scattering

Episode 9

Detecting Subatomic Particles

Episode 10

How to Experiment with Nuclear Collisions

Episode 11

Scattering Nucleons in Singles or in Pairs

Episode 12

Sea Quarks, Gluons, and the Origin of Mass

Episode 13

Nuclear Fusion in Our Sun

Episode 14

Making Elements: Big Bang to Neutron Stars

Episode 15

Splitting the Nucleus

Episode 16

Nuclear Weapons Were Never "Atomic" Bombs

Episode 17

Harnessing Nuclear Chain Reactions

Episode 18

Nuclear Accidents and Lessons Learned

Episode 19

The Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Advanced Reactors

Episode 20

Nuclear Fusion: Obstacles and Achievements

Episode 21

Killing Cancer with Isotopes, X-Rays, Protons

Episode 22

Medical Imaging: CT, PET, SPECT, and MRI

Episode 23

Isotopes as Clocks and Fingerprints

Episode 24

Viewing the World with Radiation