Content Strategy Manager
The force that is known to bind the neutrons and protons together in an atom is known as the nuclear force. This force is the one responsible for holding the nucleus together. The protons in a nucleus have a positive electrical charge and except hydrogen, all atoms have a nucleus that contains more than one proton. So by rule, the charges that are alike in nature should repel each other but still, the nucleons in the nucleus of an atom stay together. Why is it so? This is due to the presence of nuclear force.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Nuclear force, Nuclear reaction, Coulomb force, Nuclei, nucleus, nucleons, hydrogen, atom, electrical charge, proton
Nuclear Force
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
This force is stronger than the repulsive force or coulomb’s force which acts between the gravitational forces of masses. Thus it is able to overcome the resistance at a short-range and hold the nucleus together. The nuclear force which does not rely on electrical charge can exist in various forms, such as between the neutrons and protons, between protons and protons, or between the neutrons themselves. The amount of nuclear force that exists between these elements is also approximately the same. The nuclear force also cannot be represented in a simple mathematical form like Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s law.
Nuclear Reaction
Nuclei Class 12 Important Notes PDF
Nuclei Class 12 Important Notes
Also Read:
| Related Articles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Chemistry | Electron Mass | Carbon Dating |
| Geiger Counter | Nuclear Winter | Nuclear Fusion Reactor |
| Cadmium | Nucleation | Difference between Nuclear Reaction and Chemical Reaction |
Properties of the Nuclear Force
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
- The nuclear force has a repulsive core and yet it is attractive in nature. This force is responsible for preventing the collapsing of the nucleus, thus holding it together.
- The nuclear force is much stronger than the Coulomb force as it overpowers the repulsive forces between the alike protons inside the nucleus.
- Femtometre (fm) is the unit that is used to measure distances between any two nucleons. The distance between the particles in the nucleus is really small when it is 1 Fermi or 1 fm = 10–15m. Here, in this range, the force is stronger than the Coulomb’s force which is repulsive in nature.
Nuclear Force
- The nucleus force becomes almost non-existent if the distance between the particles in the nucleus is more than 2.5 Fermi.
- The nucleus force becomes repulsive when the distance between the particles is anything less than 0.7 Fermi. The size of the nucleus is decided by the repulsive property.
- Till the force allows, the nucleons can come closer to each other together. After a certain point, due to the repulsive nature of the force, the nucleons can’t come any closer together.
Examples of Nuclear Force
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
- The nuclear force is responsible for holding the nucleus together despite the presence of alike protons which is repulsive in nature.
- The nuclear force explains the fusion of Hydrogen into Helium at the core of the sun.
- The nuclear force is also responsible for the destructive power of the nuclear weapons.When a nuclear weapon is detonated, there is a huge release of energy due the strength of nuclear forces.
- The phenomenons such as radioactive decay and radiocarbon dating also use this reaction of nuclear force.
- The nuclear force is used to generate heat to produce energy such as electricity through nuclear power plants.
Things to Remember
- The force that is known to bind the neutrons and protons together in an atom is known as the nuclear force.
- This force is stronger than the repulsive force or coulomb’s force which acts between the gravitational forces of masses.
- The nuclear force has a repulsive core and yet it is attractive in nature. This force is responsible for preventing the collapsing of the nucleus, thus holding it together.
- The nucleus force becomes almost non-existent if the distance between the particles in the nucleus is more than 2.5 Fermi.
- The nuclear force is responsible for holding the nucleus together despite the presence of alike protons which is repulsive in nature.
- The nuclear force explains the fusion of Hydrogen into Helium at the core of the sun.
Also Read:
Previous Year Questions
- Two nuclei have their mass numbers in the ratio...[KEAM 2008]
- When the number of nucleons in a nuclues increases the binding….[NEET 2013]
- For a radioactive material, half-life is 10 minutes….[NEET 2018]
- A nucleus of uranium decays at rest into nuclei of thorium and helium...[NEET 2015]
- Fusion reaction takes place at high temperature because…. [NEET 2011]
- Which of the following process is allowed by momentum and energy conservation ?...[JEE Main 2020]
- Which one of the following cannot be used as a moderator in a nuclear reactor?...[JKCET 2010]
- An alpha particle of energy 5,MeV is...[JEE Advance 1981]
- In a radioactive decay chain, the initial nucleus is...[JEE Main 2019]
Sample Questions
Ques. What is a nuclear force? (1 mark)
Ans. The force that opposes the repulsive force between the like charges of protons and is known to bind the neutrons and protons together in an atom is known as the nuclear force.
Ques. What is the unit used to measure nuclear force?
(A) Coulomb
(B) Femtometre
(C) Newton
(D) None of the above (1 mark)
Ans. B) Femtometer
Ques. State examples of nuclear force.(2 marks)
Ans. The nuclear force is used in
- Nuclear power plants to generate energy, such as electricity.
- Radiocarbon Dating
- The fusion of Hydrogen into Helium in the Sun.
- Holding the nucleus together
- Nuclear weapons cause huge destruction through the release of huge amounts of energy.
Ques. Why is it that despite the presence of alike charges, the nucleus is bound together?(1 marks)
Ans. The protons in a nucleus have a positive electrical charge and except hydrogen, all atoms have a nucleus which contains more than one proton. So by rule the charges that are alike in nature should repel each other but still the nucleons in the nucleus of an atom stay together. This is due to the presence of nuclear force as this force is stronger than the repulsive force, thus it overcomes the resistance at a short range and holds the nucleus together.
Ques. An electron and alpha particle have the same de-Broglie wavelength associated with them. How are their kinetic energies related to each other?
(Delhi 2008)
Ans.
Ques. (a) The mass of a nucleus in its ground state is always less than the total mass of its constituents – neutrons and protons. Explain.
(b) Plot a graph showing the variation of the potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. (All India 2016)
Ans. (a) When nucleons approach each other to form a nucleus, they strongly attract each other. Their potential energy decreases and becomes negative. It is this potential energy which holds the nucleons together in the nucleus. The decrease in potential energy results in the decrease in the mass of the nucleons inside the nucleus.
For Latest Updates on Upcoming Board Exams, Click Here: https://t.me/class_10_12_board_updates
Check-Out:
Comments