10.2 Nuclear Binding Energy

Mass defect converted to energy, the binding-energy-per-nucleon curve peaking near iron, and the huge gap between nuclear and atomic energy scales.

University Physics Volume 3, 10.2 Nuclear Binding Energy

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6 exercises

10.2 Exercise 1

If the binding energy per nucleon is large, does this make it harder or easier to strip off a nucleon from a nucleus?

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10.2 Exercise 2

Explain why a bound system should have less mass than its components. Why is this not observed traditionally, say, for a building made of bricks?

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10.2 Exercise 4

To obtain the most precise value of the binding energy per nucleon, it is important to take into account forces between nucleons at the surface of the nucleus. Will surface effects increase or decrease estimates of BEN?

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10.2 Exercise 5

How much energy would be released if six hydrogen atoms and six neutrons were combined to form $_{ 6}^{12} \text{C} ?$

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10.2 Exercise 7

$^{56} \text{Fe}$ is among the most tightly bound of all nuclides. It makes up more than $90 \%$ of natural iron. Note that $^{56} \text{Fe}$ has even numbers of protons and neutrons. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon for $^{56} \text{Fe}$ and compare it with the approximate value obtained from the graph in the figure.

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10.2 Exercise 9

(a) Calculate BEN for $^{235} \text{U}$ , the rarer of the two most common uranium isotopes; (b) Calculate BEN for $^{238} \text{U}$ . (Most of uranium is $^{238} \text{U}$ .)

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