Nuclear physics is a field of physics that studies the structure, stability, and decay of atomic nuclei. It also studies the interactions between protons and neutrons in nuclei and among quarks inside hadrons.  Nuclear physics is different from atomic physics, which studies the atom as a whole, including its electrons. Nuclear physics has many applications and is important in a wide variety of situations. For example, the Department of Energy's Nuclear Physics program includes research on benchmark experiments for applications such as energy and space exploration.  Some examples of nuclear... Show more

Nuclear physics is a field of physics that studies the structure, stability, and decay of atomic nuclei. It also studies the interactions between protons and neutrons in nuclei and among quarks inside hadrons. 

Nuclear physics is different from atomic physics, which studies the atom as a whole, including its electrons.
Nuclear physics has many applications and is important in a wide variety of situations. For example, the Department of Energy's Nuclear Physics program includes research on benchmark experiments for applications such as energy and space exploration. 

Some examples of nuclear reactions include:

Radioactive decay (unstable atomic nucleus loses energy through radiation)
Fission, the break-up of a nucleus
Fusion, the merging of nuclei

Show less