
Content Curator
The nuclear force, also known as the nucleon-nucleon interaction, or residual strong force, is an interaction between hadrons that usually occurs between protons and neutrons of atoms.
- Protons and neutrons, which constitute both nucleons, are approximately equally affected by the nuclear force.
- Protons experience an electric force that can push them away because of their charge of +1 e, but within close range, the attractive nuclear force is strong enough to overcome the electrostatic force.
- The nuclear force binds nucleons into atomic nuclei.
- The nuclear force is strongly attractive between nucleons at distances of around 0.8 femtometres (fm, or 0.81015 meters), but it rapidly decreases significantly beyond about 2.5 fm.
- The nuclear force is essential in storing energy utilized in nuclear power and nuclear weapons.
- To bring charged protons together even though their electric repulsion, work (energy) is required.
- When protons and neutrons combine together by the nuclear force to form a nucleus, this energy is stored.
- A nucleus' mass is lesser than the sum of the individual masses of protons and neutrons.
- The mass difference is known as the mass defect, and it may be expressed as an energy equivalent.
Very Short Answers Questions [1 Mark Questions]
Ques. Find the true statement.
- The nuclear force is weaker than the electromagnetic force
- The nuclear force is independent of charge
- Nuclear charge is dependent on the charge
- The nuclear force is weaker than the gravitational force
Ans. The correct answer is b. The nuclear force is independent of charge
Explanation: The nuclear force is not affected by the charge. The nuclear force between two protons is the same as the nuclear force between two neutrons or a neutron and a proton. This is known as charge independent character of nuclear force. Furthermore, nuclear force is more powerful than electromagnetic and gravitational forces.
Ques. What is the energy released in a nuclear reaction called?
- Q value
- R-value
- Nuclear energy
- P-value
Ans. The correct answer is a. Q value
Explanation: The sum of the masses before a nuclear reaction is greater than the total of the masses after the reaction. Following the rule of interconversion of mass and energy, the difference in masses appears as energy. So, the amount of energy released during a nuclear reaction is referred to as the reaction's Q value.
Ques. Which of the following best defines nuclear forces?
- Repulsion between protons and neutrons
- The attraction between electrons and neutrons
- The attraction between protons and neutrons
- The attraction between protons and electrons
Ans. The correct answer is c. The attraction between protons and neutrons
Explanation: Inside the nucleus of an atom, there are powerful attraction forces that hold the protons and neutrons together. These forces are known as nuclear forces.
Ques. The nuclear force is short-range.
- True
- False
Ans. The correct answer is a. True
Explanation: The nuclear force can only exist in regions of a diameter of 1 fm, or around 10-15 m. When two nucleons are separated by more than 10 fm, the nuclear force between them is so small that it is almost negligible.
Ques. Which of the following forms the basis of a nuclear reactor?
- Catalyst-controlled nuclear reaction
- Fast nuclear reaction
- Uncontrolled chain reaction
- Controlled chain reaction
Ans. The correct answer is d. Controlled chain reaction
Explanation: When fast-moving neutrons are absorbed by moderators such as heavy water in a chain reaction, the amount of fissions may be regulated, and the chain reaction is referred to as a controlled chain reaction. This is the basis of a nuclear reactor.
Short Answers Questions [2 Marks Questions]
Ques. What is Nuclear force?
Ans. Nuclear forces are the forces that act between two or more nucleons. They bind protons and neutrons (collectively known as nucleons) into atomic nuclei. The nuclear force is a short-range force that keeps the nucleus stable.
Ques. The weak nuclear force is greater than the gravitational force. Why?
Ans. Gravitational force is the weakest force known to man. The weak nuclear force is stronger than electromagnetic and gravitational forces, but less strong than the strong nuclear force.
Ques. What is nuclear stability?
Ans. Nuclear stability refers to the stability of an atom's nucleus. A stable nucleus does not disintegrate on its own. Radioactive elements have unstable nuclei that spontaneously decay, emitting different radiations.
Ques. What is the Q value of a nuclear reaction?
Ans. The quantity of energy absorbed or released during a nuclear reaction is known as the Q value for that reaction. The value is related to the energy of radioactive decay products or the enthalpy of a chemical process. The masses of the reactants and products can be used to calculate it.
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Long Answers Questions [3 Marks Questions]
Ques. What are the real-life examples of nuclear force?
Ans. The following are examples of nuclear force
- The nuclear force inside the atoms causes the energy produced in nuclear processes.
- This energy is utilized to generate heat in nuclear fission reactors, which generate electricity, as well as in atomic weapons.
- A larger nucleus in nuclear fission breaks up and releases energy, resulting in the formation of two smaller nuclei.
- The energy released is the result of the larger atom's nuclear force.
Ques. What are the applications of nuclear force?
Ans. The following are the applications of nuclear force
- The concept of nuclear force is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity.
- Nuclear forces are used in the manufacturing of nuclear weapons.
- It is used in advanced medical diagnosis and treatment.
- It is used in determining the age of the Earth.
- It is used in radiocarbon dating that determines the age of the organic materials from carbon isotope abundances.
- Nuclear force is responsible for the existence of the sun.
Ques. What is the difference between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction?
Ans. The differences between a chemical reaction and a nuclear reaction are
| Chemical reaction | Nuclear reaction |
|---|---|
| In a chemical reaction, no new element is formed. | In a nuclear reaction, new elements are formed. |
| A chemical reaction is said to be balanced if the number of atoms of elements before and after the reaction are equal. | A nuclear reaction is said to be balanced, if the atomic number and mass number are equal before and after the reaction. |
| In a chemical reaction, the energy absorbed or released is small. | In a nuclear reaction, energy absorbed or released is large. |
Very Long Answers Questions [5 Marks Questions]
Ques. What are the properties of nuclear force?
Ans. The following are the properties of nuclear force
- Nuclear force is a strong fundamental force in nature. It is 100 times the electrostatic force and 1036 times the gravitational force.
- The nuclear force is mainly an attractive force.
- It is charge-independent. Nuclear force between proton-proton, proton-neutron, and neutron-neutron is the same.
- Nuclear force is a short-range force i.e. of the order of 10-15 m.
- Nuclear force is an exchange force. This force occurs due to the exchange of π-mesons in the nucleus.
- Nuclear forces are non-central forces.
Ques. What are the different types of nuclear forces?
Ans. The different types of nuclear forces are
- Strong nuclear force: The strong nuclear force, also known as the strong interaction, is the force that acts between particles such as quarks (a quark is any of a set of subatomic particles thought to be among the fundamental components of matter). Quarks are hypothesized to make up these particles, the same as protons and neutrons make up atomic nuclei. It is the most powerful of the four basic forces of interaction.
- Weak nuclear force: It exists between subatomic particles involved in radioactive decay. It occurs during beta decay when a nucleus with an excess of protons or neutrons produces beta particles and generates another nucleus.
Ques. What is the role of the strong nuclear force in nuclei stability?
Ans. The strong nuclear force maintains protons and neutrons in the nucleus together, providing stability against repulsive electromagnetic forces.
- One of nature's four basic forces is the strong nuclear force, often known as the strong interaction.
- It is the force that binds protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei.
- This force is essential for nucleus stability because it counteracts the electromagnetic force that would otherwise cause positively charged protons to oppose one other and break the nucleus apart.
- The strong nuclear force is 100 times stronger than the electromagnetic force, although it has a significantly shorter range.
- It is only effective within an atom's nucleus, often up to distances of around 1 femtometre (1 fm, or 10-15 meters).
- The strong force rapidly drops and becomes negligible beyond this range, which is why it has no effect on the structure of the atom beyond the nucleus.
- The strong nuclear force is also responsible for of the binding energy that keeps the nucleus together.
- This energy is comparable to the nucleus's mass defect, which is the difference between the nucleus's mass and the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons.
- This mass defect can be converted into energy using Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, where E represents energy, m represents mass, and c represents the speed of light.
- This energy is responsible for keeping the nucleus stable and prevents it from disintegrating.
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