Question

Two lighter nuclei are fused together to form a nucleus of medium atomic mass and energy is released in this process because

• A. binding energy of lighter nuclei is more.
• B. binding energy of medium nucleus is more.
• C. binding energy per nucleon of medium nucleus is more.
• D. energy is always released when two nuclei are fused.

Answer 1

The correct option is A binding energy of lighter nuclei is more.

binding energy of lighter nuclei is more.

Nuclear binding energy is the minimum energy that would be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts. Binding energy is released in either nuclear fission and nuclear fusion process. Lighter nuclei have more binding energy. So in nuclear fusion the energy released is due to the high binding energy of the lighter nuclei.