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Notes: Binding Energy Curve

The document discusses the binding energy curve for nuclei. It notes that binding energy per nucleon gives a measure of nuclear stability, with greater binding energy indicating more stability. The curve shows maxima for some stable nuclei like helium-4, carbon-12, and oxygen-16. For heavier nuclei over mass 40, binding energy decreases gradually due to coulomb repulsion, making these nuclei less stable. The curve helps explain nuclear fission and fusion processes that release energy.

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Sangeeta Rawat
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80 views

Notes: Binding Energy Curve

The document discusses the binding energy curve for nuclei. It notes that binding energy per nucleon gives a measure of nuclear stability, with greater binding energy indicating more stability. The curve shows maxima for some stable nuclei like helium-4, carbon-12, and oxygen-16. For heavier nuclei over mass 40, binding energy decreases gradually due to coulomb repulsion, making these nuclei less stable. The curve helps explain nuclear fission and fusion processes that release energy.

Uploaded by

Sangeeta Rawat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NOTES

BINDING ENERGY CURVE

The value of binding energy per nucleon of a nucleus gives a measure of the stability of that
nucleus. Greater the binding energy per nucleon of a nucleus, more stable is the nucleus.
Some important features of the above curve:

1) Except for some nuclei like 𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆, 𝟏𝟐𝟔𝑪 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟔𝟖𝑶, the values of binding energy per
nucleon lie on or near a smooth curve.
2) The B.E / nucleon is small for light nuclei like 𝟏𝟏𝑯, 𝟐𝟏𝑯 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟑𝟏𝑯.
3) In mass number range 2 to 20, there are well defined maxima and minima on the
curve. The maxima occur for 𝟒𝟐𝑯𝒆, 𝟏𝟐𝟔𝑪 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟔𝟖𝑶, indicating higher stability of these
nuclei than the neighbouring one. The minima, corresponding to low stability, that
occur for 𝟔𝟑𝑳𝒊, 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝑩 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟒𝟕𝑵.
4) The curve has a broad maximum close to the value 8.5 MeV/nucleon in the mass
number range from about 40 to 120. It has a peak value of 8.8 MeV/ nucleon for 𝟓𝟔 𝟐𝟔𝑭𝒆.
5) As the mass number increases further, the B.E/nucleon shows a gradual decrease and
drops to 7.6 MeV/nucleon for 𝟐𝟑𝟖 𝟗𝟐𝑼. This decrease is due to coulomb repulsion
between the protons which makes the heavier nuclei less stable.

IMPORTANCE OF BINDING ENERGY CURVE


1) B.E/nucleon is smaller for heavier nuclei than the middle ones , i.e. heavier nuclei
are less stable. When a heavier nucleus splits into lighter nuclei, the B.E/nucleon
changes from about 7.6 MeV to 8.4 MeV. Greater binding energy of the product
nuclei results in the liberation of energy. This is what happens in nuclear fission
which is a basis of atom bomb.
2) B.E/nucleon is small for light nuclei i.e. they are less stable. So , when two light
nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, the higher binding energy per nucleon of
the latter results in the release of energy. This is what happens in a nuclear fusion
which is a basis of hydrogen bomb.

Properties of 𝜶, 𝜷 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝜸 𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔


1) 𝜶 𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔:

 These are positively charged particles.


 They are deflected by electric and magnetic fields.
 They ionize heavily the gases through which they pass.
 They are easily absorbed by matter.
 They are scattered while passing through thin metal sheets.
2) 𝜷 𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔:

 They consist of fast moving electrons.


 They are deflected by electric and magnetic fields.
 They are emitted with a range of velocities.
 They can ionize a gas but their ionizing power is 1/100 times that of 𝜶 rays.
 The penetrating power of 𝜷 particles is 100 times that of 𝜶 rays.
 The range of 𝜷 particles in air is much more than that of 𝜶 particles.
3) 𝜸 𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔:

 They are electromagnetic waves.


 They are not deflected by electric and magnetic fields, indicating that 𝜸 particles do not
carry any charge.
 They travel with the speed of light.
 They ionize gases very slightly. Their ionizing power is 1/10,000 times that of 𝜶 rays.
 Their penetrating power is about 10,000 times that of 𝜶 rays.
 They are diffracted by crystals.
 They eject 𝜷 particles from substances on which they fall.
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