State what is meant by the binding energy of a nucleus.

In the nuclear reaction X + Y → Z + W, involving nuclides X, Y, Z and W, energy is released. Which is correct about the masses (M) and the binding energies (BE) of the nuclides?

In nuclear fission, a nucleus of element X absorbs a neutron (n) to give a nucleus of element Y and a nucleus of element Z.

X + n → Y + Z + 2n

What is $\frac{\text{magnitude of the binding energy per nucleon of Y}}{\text{magnitude of the binding energy per nucleon of X}}$ and $\frac{\text{total binding energy of Y and Z}}{\text{total binding energy of X}}$?

Show that the energy released in the β^– decay of rhodium is about 3 MeV.

Show that the energy released in the reaction is about $180 \mathrm{MeV}$.

The binding energy per nucleon of ${}_4^{11}Be$ is 6 MeV. What is the energy required to separate the nucleons of this nucleus?

A.  24 MeV

B.  42 MeV

C.  66 MeV

D.  90 MeV

The positions of stable nuclei are plotted by neutron number n and proton number p. The graph indicates a dotted line for which n = p. Which graph shows the line of stable nuclides and the shaded region where unstable nuclei emit beta minus (β^-) particles?

Identify particle X.

Calculate the binding energy per nucleon for uranium-238.

Draw, on the axes, a graph to show the variation with nucleon number $A$ of the binding energy per nucleon, $\frac{\text{BE}}{A}$. Numbers are not required on the vertical axis.

Identify, with a cross, on the graph in (a)(ii), the region of greatest stability.

Draw, on the axes, a graph to show the variation with nucleon number $A$ of the binding energy per nucleon, $\frac{\text{BE}}{A}$. Numbers are not required on the vertical axis.

Identify, with a cross, on the graph in (a)(ii), the region of greatest stability.

When an alpha particle collides with a nucleus of nitrogen-14 $\left({}_7^{14}\mathrm{N}\right)$, a nucleus X can be produced together with a proton. What is X?

A. ${}_8^{18}\mathrm{X}$

B. ${}_8^{17}\mathrm{X}$

C. ${}_9^{18}\mathrm{X}$

D. ${}_9^{17}\mathrm{X}$

What is the energy equivalent to the mass of one proton?

A.  9.38 × (3 × 10⁸)² × 10⁶ J

B.  9.38 × (3 × 10⁸)² × 1.6 × 10^–19 J

C.  $\frac{9.38\times {10}^8}{1.6\times {10}^{-19}}$J

D.  9.38 × 10⁸ × 1.6 × 10^–19 J

The mass of nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor decreases at the rate of $8 \mathrm{mg}$ every hour. The overall reaction process has an efficiency of $50 \%$. What is the maximum power output of the reactor?

A.  $100 \mathrm{MW}$

B.  $200 \mathrm{MW}$

C.  $100 \mathrm{GW}$

D.  $200 \mathrm{GW}$

Calculate the ratio $\frac{\mathrm{kinetic} \mathrm{energy} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{alpha} \mathrm{particle}}{\mathrm{kinetic} \mathrm{energy} \mathrm{of} \mathrm{thorium} \mathrm{nucleus}}$.

What is the definition of the unified atomic mass unit?

A.  $\frac{1}{12}$ the mass of a neutral atom of carbon-12

B.  The mass of a neutral atom of hydrogen-1

C.  $\frac{1}{12}$ the mass of a nucleus of carbon-12

D.  The mass of a nucleus of hydrogen-1

The average binding energy per nucleon of the ${}_8^{15}\text{O}$ nucleus is 7.5 MeV. What is the total energy required to separate the nucleons of one nucleus of ${}_8^{15}\text{O}$?

A.     53 MeV

B.     60 MeV

C.     113 MeV

D.     173 MeV

The rest mass of the helium isotope ${}_2^3\text{He}$ is m.

Which expression gives the binding energy per nucleon for ${}_2^3\text{He}$?

A. $\frac{(2m_p+m_n+m)c^2}{3}$

B. $\frac{(2m_p+m_n-m)c^2}{3}$

C. $(2m_p+m_n+m)c^2$

D. $(2m_p+m_n-m)c^2$

Show that the energy released in the reaction is about $180 \mathrm{MeV}$.

Uranium-235 $\left({}_{92}{}^{235}\text{U}\right)$ is used as a nuclear fuel. The fission of uranium-235 can produce krypton-89 and barium-144.

Determine, in MeV and using the graph, the energy released by this fission.

During the nuclear fission of nucleus X into nucleus Y and nucleus Z, energy is released. The binding energies per nucleon of X, Y and Z are $B_{\text{X}}$ , $B_{\text{Y}}$ and $B_{\text{Z}}$ respectively. What is true about the binding energy per nucleon of X, Y and Z?

A.  $B_{\text{Y}}$ > $B_{\text{X}}$ and $B_{\text{Z}}$ > $B_{\text{X}}$

B.  $B_{\text{X}}$ = $B_{\text{Y}}$ and $B_{\text{X}}$ = $B_{\text{Z}}$

C.  $B_{\text{X}}$ > $B_{\text{Y}}$ and $B_{\text{X}}$ > $B_{\text{Z}}$

D.  $B_{\text{X}}$ = $B_{\text{Y}}$ + $B_{\text{Z}}$

Uranium-235 (${}_{92}{}^{235}\text{U}$) is used as a nuclear fuel. The fission of uranium-235 can produce krypton-89 and barium-144.

Determine, in MeV and using the graph, the energy released by this fission.

The mass of a nucleus of iron-56 (${}_{26}{}^{56}\text{Fe}$) is M.

What is the mass defect of the nucleus of iron-56?

A.  M − 26m_p − 56m_n

B.  26m_p + 30m_n − M

C.  M − 26m_p − 56m_n − 26m_e

D.  26m_p + 30m_n + 26m_e − M

Which property of a nuclide does not change as a result of beta decay?

A. Nucleon number

B. Neutron number

C. Proton number

D. Charge

The plutonium nucleus is at rest when it decays.

Calculate the ratio $\frac{\text{kinetic energy of alpha particle}}{\text{kinetic energy of uranium}}$.

The plutonium nucleus is at rest when it decays.

Calculate the ratio $\frac{\text{kinetic energy of alpha particle}}{\text{kinetic energy of uranium}}$.

Show that the energy released in this decay is about 6 MeV.

Show that the energy released in this decay is about 6 MeV.

A neutron is absorbed by a nucleus of uranium-235$\left({}_{92}{}^{235}\text{U}\right)$. One possible outcome is the production of two nuclides, barium-144$\left({}_{56}{}^{144}\text{Ba}\right)$ and krypton-89$\left({}_{36}{}^{89}\text{Kr}\right)$.

How many neutrons are released in this reaction?

A.  0

B.  1

C.  2

D.  3