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What is the mass defect of a nucleus with binding energy \( 149.04 \, \text{MeV} \)? (Given \( 1 \, \text{u} = 931.5 \,

**Energy release in nuclear processes** always because final BE/A higher than initial, mass defect difference appears as kinetic energy of fragments and radiation, 1 u =931.5 MeV, high temperature in fusion provides kinetic energy to overcome Coulomb barrier, confinement needed, Sun's core temperature ~1.5×10⁷ K enables fusion. Δ M = (E_b/c²) . Δ M = (149.04/931.5) ≈ 0.16 u . Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV, evaluation yields 0.16 u, consistent with Bohr model and nuclear binding energy systematics.

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Atoms and Nuclei > Nuclear Reactions - Fission, Fusion and Energy Release

How much energy is equivalent to a mass defect of \( 0.1 \, \text{u} \)? (Given \( 1 \, \text{u} = 931.5 \, \text{MeV/c}

**Stability** belt of stability N≈Z for light, N>Z for heavy due to Coulomb, beyond leads to alpha decay, fission, stability requires balance, nuclear force saturated explains constant density and BE/A. Energy = Δ M · c² . Δ M = 0.1 u . Energy = 0.1 × 931.5 = 93.15 MeV . Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV, evaluation yields 93.15 MeV, consistent with Bohr model and nuclear binding energy systematics.

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Atoms and Nuclei > Radioactive Decay, Nuclear Forces and Stability

What is the mass defect of a nucleus with binding energy \( 70 \, \text{MeV} \)? (Given \( 1 \, \text{u} = 931.5 \, \tex

**Energy equivalent** E= m c², 0.005 kg matter E=0.005×9×10¹⁶=4.5×10¹⁴ J, 0.01 kg 9×10¹⁴ J, mass defect 0.1 u => BE=0.1×931.5=93.15 MeV, mass defect from BE 149.04 MeV => Δm=149.04/931.5=0.16 u, BE per nucleon 8.5 MeV A=20 total BE=170 MeV. Δ M = (E_b/c²) . Δ M = (70/931.5) ≈ 0.075 u . Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV, evaluation yields 0.075 u, consistent with Bohr model and nuclear binding energy systematics.

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Atoms and Nuclei > Mass Defect, Binding Energy and Binding Energy per Nucleon

A nucleus with mass number 40 has a binding energy of \( 320 \, \text{MeV} \). What is its binding energy per nucleon?

**Nuclear density** nearly constant because R ∝ A^{1/3} so volume ∝ A, mass ∝ A, ratio constant, ~10¹⁷ kg/m³, 10¹⁴ times water density, shows nucleus compact, nuclear force short-range saturated, mass number 16 radius ~3×10⁻¹⁵ m, mass number from radius R=5.4×10⁻¹⁵ m => A=(R/R₀)³=(4.5)³=91. Ebₙ = (E_b/A) . E_b = 320 MeV , A = 40 . Ebₙ = (320/40) = 8.0 MeV . Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV, evaluation yields 8.0 MeV, consistent with Bohr model and nuclear binding energy systematics.

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Atoms and Nuclei > Nuclear Size, Density and Structure

What is the mass defect of a nucleus with binding energy \( 216 \, \text{MeV} \)? (Given \( 1 \, \text{u} = 931.5 \, \te

**Mass defect** Δm = Z m_p + N m_n - M_nucleus, binding energy BE = Δm c², 1 u =931.5 MeV/c², BE per nucleon = BE/A, measures stability, peak ~8.8 MeV at Fe-56, for A=36 BE=288 MeV BE/A=8 MeV, for A=12 BE=96 MeV BE/A=8 MeV, for A=16 BE=127.5 MeV BE/A≈7.97 MeV, higher BE/A more stable. Δ M = (E_b/c²) . Δ M = (216/931.5) ≈ 0.232 u ≈ 0.23 u . Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV, evaluation yields 0.23 u, consistent with Bohr

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Atoms and Nuclei > Mass Defect, Binding Energy and Binding Energy per Nucleon