How does the binding energy per nucleon varywith the increase in the n...
From the graph of BE/A versus mass number A it is clear that, BE/A first increases and then decreases with increase in mass number.
View all questions of this test
How does the binding energy per nucleon varywith the increase in the n...
Binding energy per nucleon refers to the amount of energy required to break a nucleus into its individual nucleons. The binding energy per nucleon varies with the increase in the number of nucleons as follows:
1. First increases with increasing number of nucleons:
The binding energy per nucleon increases with an increase in the number of nucleons up to a certain point. This is because the strong nuclear force that binds the nucleus together is stronger than the electrostatic repulsion between positively charged protons in the nucleus. As a result, the nucleus becomes more stable with the addition of more nucleons.
2. Reaches maximum value:
The binding energy per nucleon reaches its maximum value at the point where the strong nuclear force and the electrostatic repulsion between protons are in balance. This point corresponds to the most stable nucleus.
3. Decreases with further increase in number of nucleons:
Beyond this point, the electrostatic repulsion between protons becomes stronger than the strong nuclear force. As a result, the nucleus becomes less stable with the addition of more nucleons, and the binding energy per nucleon decreases.
4. Resonance peaks:
However, there are resonance peaks at certain mass numbers due to the presence of magic numbers of nucleons (2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126). These magic numbers correspond to the completion of nuclear shells and result in higher binding energy per nucleon.
Therefore, the binding energy per nucleon first increases and then decreases with an increase in the number of nucleons, with resonance peaks at certain mass numbers.