A set of average binding-energy-per-nucleon values for some nuclei is listed below:

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

A set of average binding-energy-per-nucleon values for some nuclei is listed below: A=3:  2.8 MeV\qquad A=3:\;2.8\,\text{MeV} A=4:  7.1 MeV\qquad A=4:\;7.1\,\text{MeV} A=12:  7.7 MeV\qquad A=12:\;7.7\,\text{MeV} A=56:  8.8 MeV\qquad A=56:\;8.8\,\text{MeV} A=235:  7.6 MeV\qquad A=235:\;7.6\,\text{MeV} (a) Arrange the above nuclei in the order of increasing nuclear stability and justify your ordering. (b) Two A=3A=3 nuclei fuse to form one A=6A=6 nucleus whose average binding-energy-per-nucleon is 7.4 MeV7.4\,\text{MeV}. Calculate (i) the energy released per nucleon and (ii) the total energy released in this fusion reaction. (c) A 92235U^{235}_{92}\text{U} nucleus undergoes fission into fragments of mass numbers 117117 and 118118, each having an average binding-energy-per-nucleon of 8.5 MeV8.5\,\text{MeV}. Calculate the total energy released in this fission event. (d) Compare the answers obtained in parts (b) and (c) and explain, on the basis of binding-energy considerations, which reaction releases more energy per nucleon and why.

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