Indoctrination document presents nuclear, reactor, and atomic physics in an easy, straightforward manner. The entire subject of nuclear physics including atomic structure ionization, isotopes, radioactivity, and reactor dynamics is discussed

Hanlen, D. F.

Morse, W. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1969
	 Brief 69-10705 
ID
AEC-NASA TECH BRIEF 
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs describe innovations resulting from the research and development program 
of the U.S. AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are published by NASA and may be purchased, at 15 cents each, from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Handbook Explaining the Fundamentals of Nuclear and Atomic Physics 
The problem: 
Many technicians involved in the field testing of 
nuclear rockets are found to have little or no back-
ground in the fundamentals of either nuclear or atomic 
physics. In addition, some are not disciplined in calcu-
lus and other areas of advanced mathematics. 
The solution: 
An indoctrination document in which nuclear and 
atomic physics are presented in an easy, straight-
forward manner. 
How it's done: 
A handbook that gives an excellent overview of 
nuclear, atomic, and reactor physics, as well as their 
interrelationship is now available. It is written in such 
a way that it can be understood to the level of high 
school technical students in the 11th and 12th years of 
study. Calculus is not used, and the few complex 
equations in the text are carefully examined and ex-
plained. The entire subject of nuclear physics includ-
ing atomic structure ionization, isotopes, radioactivity, 
and reactor dynamics is discussed. All tables and dia-
grams are lucid and pertinent. Interesting questions 
such as the effect of the shape of a container upon the 
critical mass of the fissionable material inside, and 
why an atomic nucleus is not unstable in spite of the 
strong repulsive forces between its protons, are con-
sidered. 
Note: 
Single copies of this handbook: Nuclear Physics 
Made Very, Very Easy may be obtained from the: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20545 
Reference B69-10705
Source: D. F. Hanlen of
Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory
and W. J. Morse of
Aerojet-General Corporation
under contract to
Space Nuclear Propulsion Office
(NUC- 10330) 
Category 02 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any
liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
vately owned rights.
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Handbook explaining the fundamentals of nuclear and atomic physics

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