Study the overall shape of the binding-energy-per-nucleon curve and answer the following.
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 2: Algebra-based · Modern Physics · Modern Physics
Problem
Study the overall shape of the binding-energy-per-nucleon curve and answer the following.
(i) Describe how the binding energy per nucleon changes from hydrogen (A = 1) up to iron (A ≈ 56).
(ii) Explain why the curve exhibits a broad maximum ("plateau") near the iron region instead of continuing to rise indefinitely.
(iii) Give reasons for the gradual decrease in binding energy per nucleon for nuclei heavier than A ≈ 60 and relate this to their tendency toward fission.