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Question
Explain the release of energy in nuclear fission and fusion on the basis of binding energy per nucleon curve.
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Solution
The binding energy of each nucleon and a portion of its mass are transformed and released as energy during the fusion process. When heavier nuclei split apart into lighter nuclei, energy is also released in the fission process. The desire of an atomic nucleus to become more stable is what drives fission and fusion. Thus, the most stable nuclei will have a mass number of about 60, which explains why iron is the most stable element in the universe.
- The fusion of lighter-than-iron elements could release energy to create nuclei with higher binding energy (per nucleon).
- The energy released during the fission of elements heavier than iron may lead to the creation of nuclei with higher binding energies (per nucleon).
Particularly when merging tiny nuclei like hydrogen and helium into larger nuclei, nuclear fusion produces more energy than nuclear fission.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Use this graph to explain the release of energy in both the processes of nuclear fusion and fission.
What characteristic property of nuclear force explains the constancy of binding energy per nucleon (BE/A) in the range of mass number ‘A’ lying 30 < A < 170?
If the nucleons of a nucleus are separated from each other, the total mass is increased. Where does this mass come from?
In which of the following decays the atomic number decreases?
(a) α-decay
(b) β+-decay
(c) β−-decay
(d) γ-decay
Find the binding energy per nucleon of `""_79^197"Au"` if its atomic mass is 196.96 u.
(Use Mass of proton mp = 1.007276 u, Mass of `""_1^1"H"` atom = 1.007825 u, Mass of neutron mn = 1.008665 u, Mass of electron = 0.0005486 u ≈ 511 keV/c2,1 u = 931 MeV/c2.)
Determine the binding energy per nucleon of the americium isotope \[\ce{_95^244Am}\], given the mass of \[\ce{_95^244Am}\] to be 244.06428 u.
Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen whose nucleus Triton contains 2 neutrons and 1 proton. Free neutrons decay into `p + bare + barν`. If one of the neutrons in Triton decays, it would transform into He3 nucleus. This does not happen. This is because ______.
Calculate the binding energy of an alpha particle in MeV. Given
mass of a proton = 1.007825 u
mass of a neutron = 1.008665 u
mass of He nucleus = 4.002800 u
1u = 931 MeV/c2
What is binding energy of nucleus?
Mp denotes the mass of a proton and Mn that of a neutron. A given nucleus, of binding energy B, contains Z protons and N neutrons. The mass M(N, Z) of the nucleus is given by (c is the velocity of light):
