Show that the potential energy of two protons 1.7 fm (the maximum rang...
Answer
Introduction
The difference in binding energy between 1 ^ 3 H and 2 ^ 3 He can be accounted for by the potential energy of two protons 1.7 fm apart. This result bears upon the question of the dependence of nuclear forces on electric charge.
Potential Energy Calculation
The potential energy between two protons can be calculated using the formula:
V = (k * q1 * q2) / r
where k is the Coulomb constant, q1 and q2 are the charges of the protons, and r is the distance between them.
Substituting the values, we get:
V = (9 * 10^9 Nm^2/C^2 * 1.6 * 10^-19 C * 1.6 * 10^-19 C) / (1.7 * 10^-15 m)
V = 2.3 * 10^-13 J
Comparison with Binding Energy
The binding energy of 1 ^ 3 H is 8.48 MeV and that of 2 ^ 3 He is 7.72 MeV. The difference in binding energy is:
ΔE = 8.48 MeV - 7.72 MeV
ΔE = 0.76 MeV
Converting MeV to joules, we get:
ΔE = 0.76 * 1.6 * 10^-13 J
ΔE = 1.22 * 10^-13 J
The potential energy of two protons 1.7 fm apart is of the correct order of magnitude to account for the difference in binding energy between 1 ^ 3 H and 2 ^ 3 He. This indicates that the nuclear forces are strongly dependent on electric charge.
Explanation
The nuclear forces are a result of the strong interaction between nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus. This interaction is mediated by particles called mesons. The strong interaction is much stronger than the electromagnetic interaction between charged particles. However, the electromagnetic interaction is still important in determining the structure of the nucleus.
The potential energy between two protons is an electromagnetic interaction. The fact that this potential energy is of the correct order of magnitude to account for the difference in binding energy between 1 ^ 3 H and 2 ^ 3 He indicates that the electromagnetic interaction plays a significant role in the nuclear forces.
This result also suggests that the nuclear forces are not purely charge-independent, meaning that the strength of the nuclear forces depends on the charges of the particles involved. However, the strong interaction is still the dominant force in the nucleus.