Question

As the mass number A increases, the binding energy per nucleon in a nucleus
(a) increases
(b) decreases
(c) remains the same
(d) varies in a way that depends on the actual value of A.

Answer 1

(d) varies in a way that depends on the actual value of A

Binding energy per nucleon in a nucleus first increases with increasing mass number (A) and reaches a maximum of 8.7 MeV for A (50−80). Then, again it slowly starts decreasing with the increase in A and drops to the value of 7.5 MeV.