A Look at Nuclear Science and Technology

Larry Foulke

2.2 Atomic and Nuclear Physics The Einstein Connection Binding Energy and Nuclear Glue

The Nucleus
Neutrons
Protons each carry a positive charge, so how is it possible to hold so many protons together in such a small volume?

Protons

Answer: The (Strong) Nuclear Force

Image Source: See Note 1

(Strong) Nuclear Force

Coulomb Forces p p
repulsive no effect

p p

n
e

(Strong) Nuclear Force

Force between nucleons (protons and neutrons). Extremely attractive force at ranges up to 210-15 m ( 2 nucleon diameters). Force drops to zero beyond 210-15 m. Force acts equally on protons and neutrons.
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attractive

Nuclear Force p p
attractive

p p
no effect

n
e

Nuclear Stability
Lithium-7 Nucleus
n p n n p p n

Nuclear Stability
The attractive nuclear force and repulsive coulomb force exactly balance in a stable nucleus. Any change in the nuclear composition will change the balance of forces.

Nuclear Force (Attractive) Coulomb Force (Repulsive)

Lots of potential energy in the nucleus.

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Nuclear Binding Energy

Due to the structure of the nucleus and the balance of forces, nucleons bound in a nucleus are more stable (have a lower energy) than free nucleons.

E=mc2
When bound, each nucleon turns a small fraction of its mass into energy, which is typically radiated from the nucleus. This binding energy must be added to the nucleus to remove (unbind) a nucleon.
Image Source: See Note 2
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Nuclear Binding Energy

Mass Defect = Massconstituents - Massbound nucleus
Constituents may be individual nucleons or two (or more) nuclei. Example: 6Li + 6Li = 12C

Mass Energy Equivalence: Binding Energy:

E=m c2

Binding Energy =

[ Mass

constituents

- Massbound nucleus

]c

Montessori Muddle by Montessori Muddle is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Nuclear Binding Energy

The binding

p n

p n

2 protons = 2 x 1.007276 u = 2.014552 u 2 neutrons = 2 x 1.008665 u = 2.017330 u

Total mass of individual particles = 4.031882 u

p Total mass of bound nucleus = 4.001475 u n n p

Mass loss = 0.030407 u

energy can be seen as a mass defect between the weight of the nucleus and the individual (unbound) weights of its constituent nucleons.

u = abbreviation for E=mc2 Lots of amu Energy Released from mass defect worth energy for a very 28.3 MeV small mass defect (0.030407amy)(931.5MeV/amu)=28.3 Mev

Conversion Factors
Mass 1 amu = 1 u = 1.661 10-27 kg Energy 1 eV = 1.602 10-19 Joule 1 Joule = 1 kg m2 / s2 Velocity (Speed of Light) c = 2.998 108 m / s Mass to Energy Conversion (E=mc2) 1 amu = 931.50 MeV
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Binding Energy Tips

Nuclei are more stable than free nucleons. The binding energy provides a measure of how tightly bound a nucleus is. Nuclei with larger binding energies require more energy to break apart. Binding Energy Per Nucleon Gives a measure of the forces acting on each nucleon in the nucleus. Amount of energy (average) required to rip a single nucleon out of the nucleus.
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Binding Energy Per Nucleon

Image Source: See Note 3

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Binding Energy Per Nucleon

Decreasing Nuclear Strength Decreasing Nuclear Strength

Most Tightly Bound (Nickel-62)

Image Source: See Note 3
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Binding Energy Example

Change in binding energy per nucleon

118 2 8.5 118 = 2006 MeV BE118 > BE235

236 7.5 236 = 1770 MeV

Tighter bound nuclei = Lower energy state

Reaction: 2118 236, Add 236 MeV (endothermic) Reaction: 236 2118, Remove 236 MeV (exothermic)
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Image Source: See Note 3

Binding Energy Example

D-T Fusion 4 (Helium)4 7 = 28 MeV

Change in binding energy per nucleon

BE4 > BE2 + BE3

Reaction: 2 + 3 4 (9+2)-(28)=-17 Remove 17 MeV (exothermic)

3 (Tritium) 3 3 Reaction: 4 2 + 3 = 9 MeV (28)-(9+2)=17 2 (Deuterium) 2 1 Add 17 MeV (endothermic) = 2 MeV

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Image Source: See Note 3

Image Source Notes

1. 2. 3. Creative Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helium_atom_QM.svg Public domain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Einsteinformal_portrait-35.jpg Background graph in public domain. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Binding_energ y_curve_-_common_isotopes.svg; Overlay reprinted with permission from the American Nuclear Society. Nuclear Engineering Theory and Technology of Commercial Nuclear Power by Ronald Allen Knief, 2nd Edition. Copyright 2008 by the American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, Illinois. Figure 2-1.