Study the overall shape of the binding-energy-per-nucleon curve and answer the following.
a. (i) Describe how the binding energy per nucleon changes from hydrogen (A = 1) up to iron (A ≈ 56).
b. (ii) Explain why the curve exhibits a broad maximum ("plateau") near the iron region instead of continuing to rise indefinitely.
c. (iii) Give reasons for the gradual decrease in binding energy per nucleon for nuclei heavier than A ≈ 60 and relate this to their tendency toward fission.