Question

The __________ determines how tightly _________ a nucleus is.

• A. Binding energy, bound
• B. Binding energy per nucleon, bound
• C. Binding energy, packed/bound
• D. Binding energy per nucleon, packed/bound

Answer 1

The correct option is B Binding energy per nucleon, bound

Remember, it is the binding energy per nucleon that determines how tightly bound a nucleus is, and not the binding energy. Also, the tightness of packing or density is nearly constant for all nuclei, and does not depend on the boundedness of it.