Book edition 2nd Edition

Author(s) Randy Harris

Pages 633 pages

ISBN 9780805303087

Answers without the blur.

Just sign up for free and you're in.

Short Answer

An untrained but perceptive exclaims, “They say that nuclear energy can be released by sticking nuclei together and by breaking them apart. That doesn’t make sense” Straighten out your friend’s confusion.

It is because the behavior of binding energy per nucleon is not monotonic as a function of the atomic number that we can either stick small nuclei together or break big nuclei apart to gain nuclear energy.

See the step by step solution

Step by Step Solution

TABLE OF CONTENTS :

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Step 1: Given data

Nuclear energy is not released by sticking nuclei together and breaking them apart

Step 2: Concept of Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy, also called atomic energy,energythat is released in significant amounts in processes that affect atomic nuclei, thedensecores ofatoms

Step 3: Explanation of nuclei break apart to gain nuclear energy

The binding energy per nucleon decreases, as the atomic number increase in heavy nuclei.

So, the intermediate-mass nuclei are at a lower energy per nucleon compared with the heavy-nuclei.

Thus, for heavynuclei to fissile to smaller nuclei, the total energy will decrease, and thus energy s released.

That is why we can break nuclei apart to gain nuclear energy.

Step 4: Explanation of nuclei stick together to gain nuclear energy

For the small nuclei, as the atomic number increase, the binding energy per nucleon increases, thus, the heavier nuclei, like helium, is at a lower energy per nucleon compared to deuterium.

Thus, the fusion of two deuterons to helium $- 3$ could also produce energy.

That is why we can stick nuclei together to gain nuclear energy.

Find Study Materials for

Create Study Materials

Select your language

Modern Physics

Answers without the blur.

Short Answer

An untrained but perceptive exclaims, “They say that nuclear energy can be released by sticking nuclei together and by breaking them apart. That doesn’t make sense” Straighten out your friend’s confusion.

Step by Step Solution

Step 1: Given data

Step 2: Concept of Nuclear energy

Step 3: Explanation of nuclei break apart to gain nuclear energy

Step 4: Explanation of nuclei stick together to gain nuclear energy

Most popular questions for Physics Textbooks

Want to see more solutions like these?

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Select your language

Modern Physics

Answers without the blur.

Short Answer

An untrained but perceptive exclaims, “They say that nuclear energy can be released by sticking nuclei together and by breaking them apart. That doesn’t make sense” Straighten out your friend’s confusion.

Step by Step Solution

Step 1: Given data

Step 2: Concept of Nuclear energy

Step 3: Explanation of nuclei break apart to gain nuclear energy

Step 4: Explanation of nuclei stick together to gain nuclear energy

Most popular questions for Physics Textbooks

Want to see more solutions like these?

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Work Energy and Power

Radiation

Astrophysics

Physics of Motion

Scientific Method Physics

Fluids

Torque and Rotational Motion

Nuclear Physics

Fields in Physics

Measurements

Space Physics

Electricity

Physical Quantities and Units

Medical Physics

Electrostatics

Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics

Mechanics and Materials

Engineering Physics

Energy Physics

Force

Particle Model of Matter

Waves Physics

Magnetism

Modern Physics

Atoms and Radioactivity

Dynamics

Electricity and Magnetism

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Fundamentals of Physics

Kinematics Physics

Circular Motion and Gravitation

Linear Momentum

Rotational Dynamics

Oscillations

Translational Dynamics

Geometrical and Physical Optics

Thermodynamics

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetism

Electric Charge Field and Potential

Turning Points in Physics