Size of Nucleus Nuclear Density

is of the Order of 10–15 m (fermi)

Mass per unit volume of a nucleus.
Experimental results indicates that
the nuclear radius is proportional to A1/3

Nuclear Radius

(A: mass no. of nucleus)

R0 = 1.1 x 10-15 m = 1.1 fm

The radius of a nucleus of mass number 64 is 4.8 fermi.

Then the mass number of another nucleus having
radius of 4 fermi is 1000/x, where is x _____ .
JEE Main 2023 (April)
[JEE Main -Jan 2023]

A. 8
B. 27
C. 32
D. 64
 Mass Defect
For nuclide = ZXA
there is a difference between
Mexpected =
expected mass and

actual mass of a nucleus Mobserved =

It is found that
Mobserved < Mexpected

Hence, mass defect is defined as

Mass defect = Mexpected – Mobserved

Mass Defect The difference between the total mass of the

nucleons and mass of the nucleus is called the If Mo is the mass of isotope 5B12, Mp and Mn are the masses of
mass defect proton and neutron, then nuclear binding energy of isotope is :

Mass defect = Δm = Mexpected – Mobserved JEE Main 2024 (April)

A. (Mo − 5Mp) C2
Δm = [ (Zmp + (A-Z)mn) – (Matom – Zme) ]
B. (5Mp + 7Mn − Mo) C2
C. (Mo − 12Mn) C2
Δm= [Zmp + (A-Z) mn – mX ]
D. (Mo − 5Mp − 7Mn) C2

mp = Mass of Proton, mn = Mass of Neutron,

me = Mass of each electron , M = Mass of nucleus,
Z = Atomic number, A = Mass number,
M’ = Mass of atom as a whole.
Binding Energy Binding energy of a certain nucleus is 18 × 108 J. How much is the
Mass defect arises due to the fact that
difference between total mass of all the nucleons and nuclear mass of
when nucleons combine to form a nucleus,
the given nucleus:
some energy (binding energy) is liberated.
JEE Main 2024 (April)

B.E. = ΔE = Δmc2 A. 10μg

B. 20μg
C. 0.2μg
The binding energy of a
D. 2μg
nucleus may be defined as
the energy equivalent to the
mass defect of the nucleus.

If three helium nuclei combine to form a carbon nucleus then the

The energy equivalent of 1 gm of substance is : energy released in this reaction is _____ ×10−2 MeV.
JEE Main 2024 (April) (Given 1 u = 931 MeV/c2, atomic mass of helium = 4.002603 u)

JEE Main 2024 (April)

A. 5.6 × 1012 MeV
B. 5.6 × 1026 MeV
C. 11.2 × 1042 MeV
D. 5.6 eV
 JEE Main 2024 (April)

JEE Main 2024 (April)

Ans: 208

In a hypothetical fission reaction: Which of the following nuclear fragments corresponding to

1 235
nuclear fission between neutron 0n ) and uranium ( 92U isotope
92X
236 → 56Y
141 + 36Z
92 + 3R JEE Main 2024 (April)
is correct : JEE Main 2024 (April)
The identity of emitted particles R is :
A. Electron
A.
B. Neutron
C. ⋎ -radiations
B.
D. Proton

C.

D.
Fission Reaction of U235 Fission Reaction of U235

1. Nuclear Reaction :
Some other U235 fission reactions are
92U
235 + 0 n1 ➞ 92U
236 ➞ 56Ba
141 + 36Kr
92 + 30 n 1 + Q
(unstable nucleus)

2. The energy released in U235 fission is about

200 MeV or 0.8 MeV per nucleon.
3. By fission of 235
92U , on an average 2.5 neutrons are liberated.

Nuclear Fusion The explosive in a Hydrogen bomb is a mixture of 1H2, 1H3 and
6
3Li in some condensed form. The chain reaction is given by
The mass of single nucleus so formed is less than
the sum of the masses of parent nuclei.
3Li
6 + 0n1 → 2He4 + 1H3 JEE Main 2023 (April)

1H
2 + 1H3 → 2He4 + 0n1

During the explosion the energy released is approximately

[Given : M(Li) = 6.01690 amu. M ( H2) = 2.01471 amu.
M ( ,He4 ) = 4.00388amu, and 1 amu = 931.5 MeV]

A. 28.12MeV
B. 12.64MeV
C. 16.48MeV
This difference in mass results in the release of
D. 22.22MeV
tremendous amount of energy
Binding Energy per Nucleon Variation of Binding Energy per nucleon with Mass number

The binding energy per nucleon first increases on an average

Stability of a Nucleus does not depend and reaches a maximum of about 8.7 MeV for A:50 to 80.

upon binding energy of a nucleus

but it depends upon binding energy per nucleon

B.E.
B.E. / Nucleon =
Mass number

B.E.
Stability 𝛍 ∝
A For still heavier nuclei, the binding energy per nucleon
slowly decreases as A increases

Q Value In a nuclear fission process, a high mass nuclide A ≈ 236 with

It is defined as energy released during the decay process.
binding energy 7.6 MeV/Nucleon dissociated into middle mass
nuclides A ≈ 118, having binding energy of 8.6 MeV/Nucleon.
Q value = rest mass energy of reactants – rest mass energy of products. The energy released in the process would be _____ MeV.

Q = (ΣmR – ΣmP)c2 JEE Main 2023 (April)

Q = Σ(B.E.)product– Σ(B.E.)reactants

If Q is positive, energy is released and

products are more stable in comparison to reactants.

If Q is negative, energy is absorbed and

products are less stable in comparison to reactants.
The atomic mass of 6C12 is 12.000000u and that of 6C13 is A nucleus at rest disintegrates into two smaller nuclei with their
13.003354u . The required energy to remove a neutron from masses in the ratio of 2 : 1. After disintegration they will move :
13
6C , if mass of neutron is 1.008665u, will be :

A. in the same direction with same speed. JEE Main 2024 (April)
JEE Main 2023 (April)
B. in opposite directions with the same speed.
C. in opposite directions with speed in the ratio of 2 : 1 respectively.
A. 62.5MeV
B. 6.25MeV D. in opposite directions with speed in the ratio of 1 : 2 respectively.
C. 4.95MeV
D. 49.5MeV

In a nuclear fission reaction of an isotope of mass M, three When a hydrogen atom going from n = 2 to n = 1 emits a
similar daughter nuclei of same mass are formed. photon, its recoil speed is x/5 m/s. Where x = ______.
The speed of a daughter nuclei in terms of mass defect 🛆M (Use : mass of hydrogen atom = 1.6 × 10−27 kg)
will be : JEE Main 2024 (Jan)
JEE Main 2023 (April)

A. √ 2cΔM/M
B. ΔMc2/3
C. c√ 2ΔM/M
D. c√ 3ΔM/M

Ans: 17
Nuclear Forces The neutrons and protons in a stable nucleus From the statements given below :
are held together by Nuclear Forces (A) The angular momentum of an electron in nth orbit is an
integral multiple of h.
(B) Nuclear forces do not obey inverse square law.
(C) Nuclear forces are spin dependent.
(D) Nuclear forces are central and charge independent.
(E) Stability of nucleus is inversely proportional to the value
of packing fraction.
JEE Main 2023 (April)

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

A. (A), (B), (C), (D) only
B. (A), (C), (D), (E) only
Energy is needed to pull them infinitely apart C. (A), (B), (C), (E) only
D. (B), (C), (D), (E) only
The same energy is released during the formation
of the nucleus.
This energy is called the Binding Energy of the nucleus.

The mass defect in a particular reaction is 0.4 g. The amount Hydrogen atom is bombarded with electrons accelerated
of energy liberated is n x 107 kWh, where n = _____. through a potential difference of V, which causes
(speed of light = 3 × 108 m/s) excitation of hydrogen atoms. If the experiment is being
JEE Main 2024 (Jan) formed at T = 0 K. The minimum potential difference needed
to observe any Balmer series lines in the emission spectra
A. 1 will be α/10, where α = _____.
B. 100 JEE Main 2024 (Jan)
C. 36
D. 3600

Ans: A Ans: 121

 A nucleus has mass number A1 and volume V1. Another
nucleus has mass number A2 and volume V2. If relation
between mass number is A2 = 4A1 , then V2/V1 _____

JEE Main 2023 (April)

JEE Main 2024 (April)

A. 4:1
B. 2:1
A. 7.62 C. 21/3 : 1
D. 1 : 21/3
B. 25.6
C. 15.04
D. 9.13

Ans: A Ans: A

The mass number of nucleus having radius equal to half of

the radius of nucleus with mass number 192 is:

JEE Main 2023 (April)

A. 24
B. 32
C. 40
D. 20

Ans: A