12.9 In accordance with the Bohr’s model, find the quantum number that characterises the earth’s revolution around the sun in an orbit of radius 1.5 × 1011 m with orbital speed 3 × 104 m/s. (Mass of earth 305 = 6.0 × 1024 kg.) Reprint 2025-26 Physics Chapter Thirteen NUCLEI 13.1 INTRODUCTION In the previous chapter, we have learnt that in every atom, the positive charge and mass are densely concentrated at the centre of the atom forming its nucleus. The overall dimensions of a nucleus are much smaller than those of an atom. Experiments on scattering of a-particles demonstrated that the radius of a nucleus was smaller than the radius of an atom by a factor of about 104. This means the volume of a nucleus is about 10–12 times the volume of the atom. In other words, an atom is almost empty. If an atom is enlarged to the size of a classroom, the nucleus would be of the size of pinhead. Nevertheless, the nucleus contains most (more than 99.9%) of the mass of an atom. Does the nucleus have a structure, just as the atom does? If so, what are the constituents of the nucleus? How are these held together? In this chapter, we shall look for answers to such questions. We shall discuss various properties of nuclei such as their size, mass and stability, and also associated nuclear phenomena such as radioactivity, fission and fusion. 13.2 ATOMIC MASSES AND COMPOSITION OF NUCLEUS The mass of an atom is very small, compared to a kilogram; for example, the mass of a carbon atom, 12C, is 1.992647 × 10–26 kg. Kilogram is not 306 a very convenient unit to measure such small quantities. Therefore, a Reprint 2025-26 Nuclei different mass unit is used for expressing atomic masses. This unit is the atomic mass unit (u), defined as 1/12th of the mass of the carbon (12C) atom. According to this definition mass of one 12 C atom 1u = 12 1.992647 × 10 −26 kg = 12 = 1.660539 × 10 −27 kg (13.1) The atomic masses of various elements expressed in atomic mass unit (u) are close to being integral multiples of the mass of a hydrogen atom. There are, however, many striking exceptions to this rule. For example, the atomic mass of chlorine atom is 35.46 u. Accurate measurement of atomic masses is carried out with a mass spectrometer, The measurement of atomic masses reveals the existence of different types of atoms of the same element, which exhibit the same chemical properties, but differ in mass. Such atomic species of the same element differing in mass are called isotopes. (In Greek, isotope means the same place, i.e. they occur in the same place in the periodic table of elements.) It was found that practically every element consists of a mixture of several isotopes. The relative abundance of different isotopes differs from element to element. Chlorine, for example, has two isotopes having masses 34.98 u and 36.98 u, which are nearly integral multiples of the mass of a hydrogen atom. The relative abundances of these isotopes are

13.4 1.23 351 Reprint 2025-26 Physics 13.5 (i) Q = –4.03 MeV; endothermic (ii) Q = 4.62 MeV; exothermic 56 – 2m 28 Al = 26.90 MeV; not possible. 13.6 Q = m ( 26 Fe ) ( 13 ) 13.7 4.536 × 1026 MeV 13.8 About 4.9 × 104 y 13.9 360 KeV CHAPTER 14 14.1 (c) 14.2 (d) 14.3 (c) 14.4 (c) 14.5 (c) 14.6 50 Hz for half-wave, 100 Hz for full-wave Reprint 2025-26 Bibligraphy BIBLIOGRAPHY TEXTBOOKS For additional reading on the topics covered in this book, you may like to consult one or more of the following books. Some of these books however are more advanced and contain many more topics than this book. 1 Ordinary Level Physics, A.F. Abbott, Arnold-Heinemann (1984). 2 Advanced Level Physics, M. Nelkon and P. Parker, 6th Edition, Arnold-Heinemann (1987). 3 Advanced Physics, Tom Duncan, John Murray (2000). 4 Fundamentals of Physics, David Halliday, Robert Resnick and Jearl Walker, 7th Edition John Wily (2004). 5 University Physics (Sears and Zemansky’s), H.D. Young and R.A. Freedman, 11th Edition, Addison—Wesley (2004). 6 Problems in Elementary Physics, B. Bukhovtsa, V. Krivchenkov, G. Myakishev and V. Shalnov, MIR Publishers, (1971). 7 Lectures on Physics (3 volumes), R.P. Feynman, Addision – Wesley (1965). 8 Berkeley Physics Course (5 volumes) McGraw Hill (1965). a. Vol. 1 – Mechanics: (Kittel, Knight and Ruderman) b. Vol. 2 – Electricity and Magnetism (E.M. Purcell) c. Vol. 3 – Waves and Oscillations (Frank S. Crawford) d. Vol. 4 – Quantum Physics (Wichmann) e. Vol. 5 – Statistical Physics (F. Reif ) 9 Fundamental University Physics, M. Alonso and E. J. Finn, Addison – Wesley (1967). 10 College Physics, R.L. Weber, K.V. Manning, M.W. White and G.A. Weygand, Tata McGraw Hill (1977). 11 Physics: Foundations and Frontiers, G. Gamow and J.M. Cleveland, Tata McGraw Hill (1978). 12 Physics for the Inquiring Mind, E.M. Rogers, Princeton University Press (1960). 13 PSSC Physics Course, DC Heath and Co. (1965) Indian Edition, 14 Physics Advanced Level, Jim Breithampt, Stanley Thornes Publishers (2000). 15 Physics, Patrick Fullick, Heinemann (2000). 16 Conceptual Physics, Paul G. Hewitt, Addision—Wesley (1998). 17 College Physics, Raymond A. Serway and Jerry S. Faughn, Harcourt Brace and Co. (1999). 18 University Physics, Harris Benson, John Wiley (1996). 19 University Physics, William P. Crummet and Arthur B. Western, Wm.C. Brown (1994). 20 General Physics, Morton M. Sternheim and Joseph W. Kane, John Wiley (1988). 21 Physics, Hans C. Ohanian, W.W. Norton (1989). Reprint 2025-26 Physics 22 Advanced Physics, Keith Gibbs, Cambridge University Press (1996). 23 Understanding Basic Mechanics, F. Reif, John Wiley (1995). 24 College Physics, Jerry D. Wilson and Anthony J. Buffa, Prentice Hall (1997). 25 Senior Physics, Part – I, I.K. Kikoin and A.K. Kikoin, MIR Publishers (1987). 26 Senior Physics, Part – II, B. Bekhovtsev, MIR Publishers (1988). 27 Understanding Physics, K. Cummings, Patrick J. Cooney, Priscilla W. Laws and Edward F. Redish, John Wiley (2005). 28 Essentials of Physics, John D. Cutnell and Kenneth W. Johnson, John Wiley (2005). GENERAL BOOKS For instructive and entertaining general reading on science, you may like to read some of the following books. Remember however, that many of these books are written at a level far beyond the level of the present book. 1 Mr. Tompkins in paperback, G. Gamow, Cambridge University Press (1967). 2 The Universe and Dr. Einstein, C. Barnett, Time Inc. New York (1962). 3 Thirty years that Shook Physics, G. Gamow, Double Day, New York (1966). 4 Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman, R.P. Feynman, Bantam books (1986). 5 One, Two, Three… Infinity, G. Gamow, Viking Inc. (1961). 6 The Meaning of Relativity, A. Einstein, (Indian Edition) Oxford and IBH Pub. Co. (1965). 7 Atomic Theory and the Description of Nature, Niels Bohr, Cambridge (1934). 8 The Physical Principles of Quantum Theory, W. Heisenberg, University of Chicago Press (1930). 9 The Physics—Astronomy Frontier, F. Hoyle and J.V. Narlikar, W.H. Freeman (1980). 10 The Flying Circus of Physics with Answer, J. Walker, John Wiley and Sons (1977). 11 Physics for Everyone (series), L.D. Landau and A.I. Kitaigorodski, MIR Publisher (1978). Book 1: Physical Bodies Book 2: Molecules Book 3: Electrons Book 4: Photons and Nuclei. 12 Physics can be Fun, Y. Perelman, MIR Publishers (1986). 13 Power of Ten, Philip Morrison and Eames, W.H. Freeman (1985). 14 Physics in your Kitchen Lab., I.K. Kikoin, MIR Publishers (1985). 15 How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life, Louis A. Bloomfield, John Wiley (2005). 16 Physics Matters: An Introduction to Conceptual Physics, James Trefil and Robert M. Hazen, John Wiley (2004). 354 Reprint 2025-26

13.2 Obtain the binding energy of the nuclei 5626Fe and 20983 Bi in units of MeV from the following data: m ( 5626Fe ) = 55.934939 u m ( 20983 Bi ) = 208.980388 u