IIT JAM

Saakaar 2025
Physics
Modern Physics DPP: 6

Binding Energy

Q1 A nucleus with mass number 240 breaks into 1

0
n = 1. 008665u ,
1
1
p = 1. 007276u . Then
two fragments each of mass number 120, the energy needed to remove a neutron from the
binding energy per nucleon of unfragmented nucleus of the calcium isotope
42
20
Ca is
nuclei is 7.6MeV while that of fragments is 8.5 (A) 11. 48 M eV (B) 10. 48 M eV
MeV. The total gain in the Binding Energy in the (C) 12. 84 M eV (D) 14. 84 M eV
process is :
Q6 Binding energy per nucleon is maximum for
(A) 216 MeV (B) 0.9 MeV
(A) 4 H e (B) 40 C a
(C) 9.4 MeV (D) 804 MeV
(C) 56F e (D) 206P b
Q2 The large abundance of 56
Fe is because its
Q7 The masses of a hydrogen atom, neutron and
nucleus has 238
U are given by 1.0078,1.0087 and 238.0508
(A) the maximum nuclear binding energy 92

respectively. The binding energy of 238

U is
(B) a large pairing energy 92

therefore approximately equal to (taking 1

(C) a small symmetry energy
a.m.u. = 931.64 MeV)
(D) an even number of protons and neutrons
(A) 120 MeV (B) 1500 MeV
Q3 The order of magnitude of the binding energy (C) 1600 MeV (D) 1800 MeV
per nucleon in a nucleus is:
Q8 On the basis of tabulated masses, which of the
(A) 10−5 M eV (B) 10−3 M eV
isobars , and , would you expect to
17 17 17
N O F
(C) 0. 1 M eV (D) 8 M eV
be the most stable?
Q4 Calculate the mass defect of 238
U - Atomic masses are :
Calculated mass of m (
238 17 17
U ) = 238 ⋅ 050785 M( N ) = 17. 0084504, M ( O) = 16

(A) 4.7306M eV . 9991314

(B) 47.306M eV M(
17
F ) = 17. 0020954

(C) 473.06M eV (A) 17

N

(D) 473.06keV (B) 17

O

(C) 17
F
Q5 The atomic masses of
42 41
(D) 17
N and
17
F
C a = 41. 958622u , C a = 40. 962278u ,
20 20

41
C a = 40. 961825u Q9 The measured mass of deuteron atom ( H)
1
2
,
19

and masses of Hydrogen atom 1

( H)
1
and neutrons(n) are

Android App | iOS App | PW Website

 IIT JAM

2.0141u , 1.0078u and 1.0087u. What is the

binding energy of the deuteron nucleus.
(A) 2. 4365 M eV
(B) 4. 4356 M eV
(C) 3. 2356 M eV
(D) 2. 2356 M eV

Q10 The masses of a hydrogen atom, neutron and

238
92
U atom are given by 1.0078u ,1.0087u and
238.0508u respectively. What is the binding
energy per nucleon of 238
92
U nucleus.
(A) 6. 7 M eV /nucleons
(B) 7. 6 M eV /nucleons
(C) 8. 6 M eV /nucleons
(D) 9. 8 M eV /nucleons

Android App | iOS App | PW Website

 IIT JAM

Answer Key
Q1 (A) Q6 (C)

Q2 (A) Q7 (D)

Q3 (D) Q8 (B)

Q4 (B) Q9 (D)

Q5 (A) Q10 (B)

Android App | iOS App | PW Website

 IIT JAM

Hints & Solutions

Q1 Text Solution: Explanation:
Given, Binding energy is the minimum amount of
The mass number of the reactant = 240 energy required to break the nucleus of an
The mass number of products =120 atoms to its constituent parts. from the
Binding Energy per nucleon =7.6MeV experiment, it is observed that the binding
Binding Energy per nucleon of product =8.5MeV energy per nucleon is never greater than 8.8
X
240
→ Y
120
+ Z
120
+ Q MeV and average binding energy per nucleon is
Where Q is the total gain in the Binding energy. 8MeV.
Q = 120 × 8.5 + 120 × 8.5 – 240 × 7.6 A nuclear force is attractive and sufficiently
Q = 2 × 120 × 8.5 – 1824 = 216 MeV strong to produce a few MeV binding energy

Q2 Text Solution: per nucleon.

Hence, the correct answer is Option D.
Concept:-
The large abundance of 56
Fe is because its Q4 Text Solution:
nucleus has the maximum nuclear binding Concept:-
energy. Mass defect is the difference between the
Explanation:- predicted mass and the actual mass of an
The most common isotope of iron, iron-56, is atom's nucleus.
thought to be the most stable nucleus since it Calculation:-
has the lowest mass per nucleon of all nuclides. The mass defect of
238
U

Iron-56 is also a strongly and effectively bound = [m (

238
U ) − 238]c
2

nucleus, having a binding energy of 8. 8 MeV

(where m (
238
U ) = 238 ⋅ 050785)

per nucleon.
Furthermore, it takes a significant amount of = (238 ⋅ 050785 − 238] × 931 ⋅ 5M eV /u

energy per nucleon to split the nucleus apart.

= 47 ⋅ 306M eV
Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Q3 Text Solution: Hence, option B is correct.

Concept:
Q5 Text Solution:
If a certain number of neutrons and protons are 42 41 1
Ca → Ca + n
brought together to form a nucleus of a certain 20 20 0

Total mass of the

charge and mass, the energy Eb will be 41 1
C a and n = 40. 962278 + 1. 008665 =
released in the process. The energy Eb is called 20 0

41. 970943 u
the binding energy of the nucleus.
Mass defect,
The ratio of the binding energy Eb of a nucleus
Δm = 41. 970943u − 41. 958622u = 0
to the number of nucleons A is called the . 012321u

binding energy per nucleon Ebn . So, B.E. of missing neutron =

Eb
E bn = Δm × 931. 5 M eV = 11. 48 M eV
A

Android App | iOS App | PW Website

 IIT JAM

Q6 Text Solution: component nucleons. Binding Energy is

Concept: expressed in terms of kJ/mole of nuclei or
The binding energy of a particle can be defined MeV/nucleon.
as the minimum energy required to remove B. E. = Δmc
2

nucleons (proton and neutron) to an infinite B. E. = Δm × 931. 64M eV

distance from the nucleus. Δm is mass def ect

2
ΔE = (Z mp + (A − Z )mn − M )c × 931 Δm = [Z mp + (A − Z )mn ] − matom

. 5M eV Explanation:
Binding energy per nucleons as an average Given-
energy per nucleon needed to separate a mp = 1. 0078, mn = 1. 0087, matom = 238

nucleus into its individual nucleons. . 0508

Explanation: 1 amu = 931. 64M eV

Calculation:
Δm = 92 × 1. 0078 + 146 × 1. 0087 − 238

. 0508

Δm = 92. 7176 + 147. 2702 − 238. 0508

Δm = 239. 9878 − 238. 0508

Δm = 1. 937

B. E. = Δm × 931. 64M eV

B. E. = 1. 937 × 931. 64M eV

B. E. = 1804. 58 M eV

B. E. ~1800 M eV

The binding energy per nucleon is independent Hence, the correct answer is Option-D.
of atomic number. The curve has a maximum of
Q8 Text Solution:
about 8.75 MeV for A=56 i.e. for iron-56F e has
Concept:
the most binding energy per nucleon, which
Isobar, in atomic physical science, any
makes it the most stable nucleus. The rationale
individual from a gathering of nuclear or atomic
for this peak in binding energy is the interplay
species, all of which have a similar mass
between the Coulombic repulsion of the
number—that is, similar all out number of
protons in the nucleus, because like charges
protons and neutrons.
would repel each other, and the strong nuclear
Binding energy is defined as the smallest
force.
amount of energy that is required to remove a
So, the binding energy per nucleon is maximum
particle from a system of particles. Nuclear
for 56F e26 .
binding energy is basically the energy required
Hence, the correct answer is Option-C.
to dismantle a nucleus into free unbound
Q7 Text Solution: neutrons and protons. It is the energy
Concept: equivalent of the mass defect, the difference
Binding Energy is also defined as the energy between the mass number of a nucleus and its
required to break down a nucleus into its measured mass.

Android App | iOS App | PW Website

 IIT JAM

Explanation:
has the lowest mass and hence it has
17
O

highest binding energy. The binding energy per

nucleon is used for the measure of the stability
of the nucleus, that is to be found. The greater
the binding energy per nucleon, the more the
stability of the nucleus is. So, is most stable
17
O

among all the isobars.

Hence, the correct answer is Option-B.

Q9 Text Solution:
2
B. E. = [Z mH + N mn − m ( H )] × 931. 5
1

M eV

B. E. = [1 × 1. 0078 + 1 × 1. 0087 − 2. 0141]

× 931. 5 M eV

B. E. = 0. 0024 × 931. 5 M eV = 2. 2356

M eV

Q10 Text Solution:

238
B. E. = [Z mH + N mn − m ( U )] × 931
92

. 5 M eV

B. E.

= [92 × 1. 0078 + 146 × 1. 0087 − 238. 0508]

× 931. 5 M eV

B. E. = 1. 937 × 931. 5 M eV = 1804 M eV

B.E. 1804
= = 7. 6 M eV /nucleons
A 238

Android App | iOS App | PW Website

 IIT JAM

Android App | iOS App | PW Website