OSHER 462 - Nuclear Physics for Utahns

Nuclear processes affect our lives in four important ways: our understanding of nature including the life and death of stars and the creation of the elements, the hazards and benefits of nuclear radiation in the human body, nuclear power production, and nuclear weapons. This course is a brief non-mathematical introduction to nuclear physics. It starts with a review of what physics does and the concept of energy. We will then consider the future of nuclear power, including power from fusion reactors and the use of nuclear power in space vehicles.