Compare the stability of the nuclei and using the data below

PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Nuclei · Nuclei

Problem

Compare the stability of the nuclei

^{56}_{26}\mathrm{Fe}

and

^{12}_{\;6}\mathrm C

using the data below. Rest masses:

m_p = 1.007276\,\text{u}

m_n = 1.008665\,\text{u}

m_e = 0.000548\,\text{u}

Atomic masses (including electrons):

^{56}_{26}\mathrm{Fe}: 55.93494\,\text{u}

^{12}_{\;6}\mathrm C: 12.00000\,\text{u}

Take

1\,\text{u} = 931.5\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}

. (i) Calculate the nuclear mass of each isotope after removing the electron masses. (ii) Determine the mass defect for each nucleus. (iii) Compute the binding energy per nucleon for each nucleus. (iv) Based on your results, state which nucleus is more stable and justify your answer quantitatively.

Related theory

Nuclear Binding Energy
Mass defect and binding energy
Nuclear physics
Mass energy equivalence
Nuclei

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