Question

(a) Write three characteristic properties of nuclear force.

(b) Draw a plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two important conclusions that can be drawn from the graph.

Answer 1

(a) (i) Nuclear forces are short range forces.
(ii) Nuclear forces are primarily attractive and extremly strong.
(iii) Nuclear forces are independent of charge.

(b)

(i) For distances less than 0.8 fm, negative PE decreases to zero and then becomes positive.
(ii) For distances larger than 0.8 fin, negative PE goes on decreasing.