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Why do heavier nuclei have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons than lighter nuclei?
- a)to add more nucleons so that the binding energy is greater.
- b)to provide more repulsive strong nuclear force to balance the attractive electromagnetic force.
- c)to provide more attractive strong nuclear force to balance the repulsive electromagnetic force.
- d)to provide more attractive electromagnetic force.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Why do heavier nuclei have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons than...
The correct answer is: to provide more attractive strong nuclear force to balance the repulsive electromagnetic force.
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Why do heavier nuclei have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons than...
Explanation:
The ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus plays a crucial role in determining the stability and properties of an atom. Heavier nuclei generally have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons compared to lighter nuclei. This is due to several reasons, which are explained below:
1. Balancing the repulsive electromagnetic force:
The protons in the nucleus carry positive electric charges, which repel each other due to the electromagnetic force. As the number of protons increases, the repulsive force between them becomes stronger. In order to counterbalance this repulsion and maintain stability, additional neutrons are added to the nucleus. Neutrons do not carry any electric charge, so they do not contribute to the electromagnetic repulsion. By increasing the number of neutrons, the attractive strong nuclear force can counterbalance the repulsive electromagnetic force, thereby enhancing the stability of the nucleus.
2. Providing more attractive strong nuclear force:
The strong nuclear force is responsible for holding the nucleus together by overcoming the electromagnetic repulsion between protons. This force is attractive and acts between all nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus. As the size and mass of the nucleus increase, the overall attractive strong nuclear force also needs to increase to maintain stability. By adding more neutrons, the attractive force between nucleons is enhanced, thus balancing the repulsive electromagnetic force and stabilizing the nucleus.
3. Enhancing nuclear binding energy:
The binding energy of an atomic nucleus is the energy required to disassemble it into its constituent protons and neutrons. Heavier nuclei have a greater binding energy per nucleon compared to lighter nuclei. This is because the strong nuclear force, which is responsible for binding the nucleons together, acts over a short range. By adding more neutrons, the range of the strong nuclear force is extended, leading to a stronger binding between nucleons and a higher binding energy. Therefore, heavier nuclei have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons to increase the binding energy and stabilize the nucleus.
Overall, the greater ratio of neutrons to protons in heavier nuclei serves to counterbalance the repulsive electromagnetic force, provide a stronger attractive force, and enhance the nuclear binding energy, thereby ensuring the stability and integrity of the nucleus.
The ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus plays a crucial role in determining the stability and properties of an atom. Heavier nuclei generally have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons compared to lighter nuclei. This is due to several reasons, which are explained below:
1. Balancing the repulsive electromagnetic force:
The protons in the nucleus carry positive electric charges, which repel each other due to the electromagnetic force. As the number of protons increases, the repulsive force between them becomes stronger. In order to counterbalance this repulsion and maintain stability, additional neutrons are added to the nucleus. Neutrons do not carry any electric charge, so they do not contribute to the electromagnetic repulsion. By increasing the number of neutrons, the attractive strong nuclear force can counterbalance the repulsive electromagnetic force, thereby enhancing the stability of the nucleus.
2. Providing more attractive strong nuclear force:
The strong nuclear force is responsible for holding the nucleus together by overcoming the electromagnetic repulsion between protons. This force is attractive and acts between all nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus. As the size and mass of the nucleus increase, the overall attractive strong nuclear force also needs to increase to maintain stability. By adding more neutrons, the attractive force between nucleons is enhanced, thus balancing the repulsive electromagnetic force and stabilizing the nucleus.
3. Enhancing nuclear binding energy:
The binding energy of an atomic nucleus is the energy required to disassemble it into its constituent protons and neutrons. Heavier nuclei have a greater binding energy per nucleon compared to lighter nuclei. This is because the strong nuclear force, which is responsible for binding the nucleons together, acts over a short range. By adding more neutrons, the range of the strong nuclear force is extended, leading to a stronger binding between nucleons and a higher binding energy. Therefore, heavier nuclei have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons to increase the binding energy and stabilize the nucleus.
Overall, the greater ratio of neutrons to protons in heavier nuclei serves to counterbalance the repulsive electromagnetic force, provide a stronger attractive force, and enhance the nuclear binding energy, thereby ensuring the stability and integrity of the nucleus.
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Why do heavier nuclei have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons than lighter nuclei?a)to add more nucleons so that the binding energy is greater.b)to provide more repulsive strong nuclear force to balance the attractive electromagnetic force.c)to provide more attractive strong nuclear force to balance the repulsive electromagnetic force.d)to provide more attractive electromagnetic force.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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Solutions for Why do heavier nuclei have a greater ratio of neutrons to protons than lighter nuclei?a)to add more nucleons so that the binding energy is greater.b)to provide more repulsive strong nuclear force to balance the attractive electromagnetic force.c)to provide more attractive strong nuclear force to balance the repulsive electromagnetic force.d)to provide more attractive electromagnetic force.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for Physics.
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