A nucleus of mass number splits symmetrically into two fragments each of mass number

PHYSICS · Subjective · CBSE · Physics · Nuclei · Nuclei

Problem

A nucleus of mass number

A

splits symmetrically into two fragments each of mass number

A/2

. If the binding energy per nucleon of the parent nucleus is

b_1

and that of each fragment is

b_2

: (i) Derive an expression for the total energy released

\Delta E

in terms of

A

b_1

and

b_2

. (ii) State the condition on

b_1

and

b_2

for the process to be exothermic.