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Nuclei
Nuclear Fission and Binding Energy
1 question from 1 paper, each with its answer.
- question
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Concepts tested
- Binding energy gain in fission
All Questions
2001 AIPMT 1 question
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Energy released in nuclear fission is due toIn fission, a heavy nucleus (e.g. U-235, with binding energy per nucleon about 7.6 MeV) splits into two medium nuclei with higher binding energy per nucleon (about 8.5 MeV).
So the total binding energy of the fragments is greater than the binding energy of the parent nucleus. The difference is released as energy (about 200 MeV per fission).
Equivalently, the total mass of the products is less than that of the reactants, but the statement that specifically explains why energy is released is the binding energy statement.
So, as per the answer key, energy is released because the total binding energy of the fragments is more than the binding energy of the parent element.