Answer to Question #120825 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for Ansa

Question

Explain that what peaks in binding energy curve shows in details?

Answer 1

Binding energy is the energy required to remove a nucleon from the nucleus of an atom.

The binding energy of hydrogen-1 is zero because there is only one proton in the nucleus so there is no electrostatic repulsion. We can see the graph shoots up drastically all the way to helium before it dips a bit and then climbs again towards iron-56. This is the most nuclear stable nucleus that exists. After iron-56, the binding energy drops gently towards uranium-238.

Anything on the left side of Fe-56 can be created in a fusion nuclear process, which involves atoms compressing together under extreme pressure and temperature to form heavier elements. This is what goes on in the core of stars. Anything on the right side of Fe-56 can be created in a fission nuclear process, which involves heavy atoms splitting into lighter elements. This occurs in nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs. In both fusion and fission reactions, tremendous amounts of energy are generated. Let's focus on fusion and fission independently.