Question

Sketch the average binding energy as a function of mass number for stable nuclei. List at least four main features of the curve and give the inferences that could be drawn from them.

Answer 1

(i) The force is attractive and strong enough to produce a binding energy of few MeV per nucleon.

(ii) The constancy of the binding energy in the range 30 <A<170 is a consequence of the fact that the nuclear force is short range force.