Physics

Problem

Identify the correct empirical relation for the nuclear radius

R

of a nucleus with mass number

A

. a)

R = R_0 A^{2/3}

R = R_0 A^{1/3}

R = R_0 A^{1/2}

R = R_0 A^{-1/3}

Intuitive explanation

The nuclear radius follows a scaling law that reflects how nucleons pack together in the nucleus. Since protons and neutrons have roughly constant density, the nucleus volume must scale with the number of nucleons—and radius scales as the cube root of volume. This gives you a simple power-law relationship between $R$ and $A$ that experimentally holds across the entire periodic table.

Intuitive explanation

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