The Physics of PET Scans
All elements are composed of atoms, which are composed of small particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The nucleus of an atom is made of a tightly packed collection of protons and neutrons. You would think that with positively charged protons being packed so closely together the nucleus would fall apart, however this is not the case. There is an attractive force called the “nuclear force” which is able to overcome the repulsive force of the adjacent protons and holds the nucleus together. When the nuclear force is strong enough to hold a nucleus of an atom together the atomic nucleus is said to be stable. However, there are certain elements where the nuclear force is not strong enough to hold the
All elements are composed of atoms, which are composed of small particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The nucleus of an atom is made of a tightly packed collection of protons and neutrons. You would think that with positively charged protons being packed so closely together the nucleus would fall apart, however this is not the case. There is an attractive force called the “nuclear force” which is able to overcome the repulsive force of the adjacent protons and holds the nucleus together. When the nuclear force is strong enough to hold a nucleus of an atom together the atomic nucleus is said to be stable. However, there are certain elements where the nuclear force is not strong enough to hold the