What is the difference between atomic and nuclear physics?
Asked by: Kelley D. Burroughs Answer What is the difference between atomic and nuclear physics? Really short and non-informative answer would be that one deals with atoms, while the other deals with nuclei. Of course, nucleus is a part of the atom. So what is it that separates these two branches of physics? Atomic physics deals with the properties of atoms, which are mainly due to their electron configuration. The nucleus is also involved, but only with its overall properties. As far as atomic physics is concerned, the nucleus is a single massive particle, with spin, mass, and charge. The internal workings of the nucleus are irrelevant. Nuclear physics, on the other hand, deals only with nuclei. It studies the structure of nuclei, and their reactions and interactions. The distance scales involved are inherently different – atomic physics deals with distances of the order of nanometers – (10-9 m) while nuclear physics deals with distances of the order of femtometers (10-15 m). Also, ene
