Quelpr
1 markAtomic Mass

CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 2 · Question 9(b)(ii)

Explain what is meant by binding energy of an atomic nucleus.

The mark scheme is shown once you've answered.

Practise this question

Other parts of this question

  1. 9(a)(i)Distinguish between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.[2 marks]
  2. 9(a)(ii)Sketch a graph of binding energy per nucleon versus mass number, and explain how nuclear fission and fusion can be understood from the shape of the curve.[4 marks]
  3. 9(b)(i)Explain what is meant by mass defect.[1 mark]
  4. 9(c)The nitrogen nucleus 15_7 N has a mass of 15.9963 u. Calculate the binding energy per nucleon of this nucleus.[6 marks]
  5. 9(d)Show that a uranium-238 nucleus can disintegrate spontaneously with the emission of an alpha particle.[2 marks]
  6. 9(e)(i)Assuming the uranium-238 nucleus was at rest before disintegration, calculate the total energy released in the disintegration.[2 marks]
  7. 9(e)(ii)Calculate the kinetic energy of the emitted alpha particle.[2 marks]

More practice: the rest of this paper · more Atomic Mass questions · all CAPE Physics Unit 2 past papers