Physics

Problem

Study the following data on binding energy per nucleon (

E_{bn}

) of four representative nuclei: Nucleus

E_{bn}

(MeV per nucleon)

^{4}\!\mathrm{He}

7.1

^{14}\!\mathrm{N}

7.9

^{56}\!\mathrm{Fe}

8.8

^{238}\!\mathrm{U}

7.6 a. (i) Arrange the above nuclei in decreasing order of nuclear stability. b. (ii) Which nucleus in the list would neither release significant energy by usual fusion nor by fission processes? Give a reason. c. (iii) Explain, with reference to the given data, why the lightest and the heaviest nuclei in the list are less stable than the nucleus identified in part (ii).

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