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Fission and fusion are two processes that can result in the transfer of binding energy from nuclei - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 2
Question 6
Fission and fusion are two processes that can result in the transfer of binding energy from nuclei. 06.1 State what is meant by the binding energy of a nucleus. 06... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Fission and fusion are two processes that can result in the transfer of binding energy from nuclei - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 2
Step 1
Step 2
Calculate, in MeV, the binding energy for a nucleus of iron \( \ce{^{56}_{26}Fe} \).
Answer
To calculate the binding energy, we use the formula:
Where ( \Delta m ) is the mass defect and ( c ) is the speed of light (approximately ( 3 \times 10^8 , \text{m/s} )).
Substituting the known values:
- Convert mass defect to MeV: ( ext{Binding Energy} = (9.288 \times 10^{-26} ext{ kg}) \times (3 \times 10^8)^2 \times \frac{1}{1.602 \times 10^{-13}} , ext{MeV} ext{ per Joule}) 2. Thus, the binding energy for iron ( \ce{^{56}_{26}Fe} ) is calculated to be approximately 490 MeV.
Step 3
Annotate Figure 10 with F1 and F2 to show one possible pair of nuclides resulting from the fission of X.
Answer
Based on the fission of X, annotate the graph in Figure 10 by marking F1 and F2. A possible pair of nuclides could be ( \ce{^{28}{14}Si} ) and ( \ce{^{28}{12}Mg} ). Ensure both nuclides are positioned symmetrically about the nucleon number corresponding to X.
Step 4
Deduce the likely initial mode of decay of F1 and F2.
Answer
Referring to Figure 11, both F1 and F2 are located in the regions above and below the line of stability. Given their high N/Z ratios, both nuclides are likely to undergo beta decay to move towards stability. F1, being heavier, may have a higher likelihood to decay into a nuclide with a lower neutron number by emitting a beta particle.