Atomic Nucleus


Ask a Question, Get an Answer!
Hundreds of tutors are online and ready to help you right now!
atomic nucleus

It is the central core of the atom where the entire +ve charge and mass is concentrated. It is a tiny sphere of diameter ranging from 10-15m to 10-14m. A nucleus is made up of particles called neutrons and protons. A neutron does not carry any charge while a proton does (+e=1.6x10-19C). Neutron and proton are regarded as different charged states of the same particle called Nucleon.

Atomic number is the number of protons present inside the nucleus and is also equal to the number of electrons.

Mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons inside the nucleus.

A nuclide is specific nucleus of an atom represented as

ZXA where A is the Mass number

Z is the atomic number

X is the symbol of elements.

Nuclear Size

Experiments reveal that volume of a nucleus is proportional to the mass number A.

i.e., V a A

4/3p R3 a A

R a (A) 1/3

or R = Ro A 1/3

(Where R is radius of nucleus assumed to be spherical)

Ro = 1.1x 10-15 m an empirical constant

\The atomic nucleus of different elements have different sizes.

Nuclear Density

formula for nuclear density

where m is average mass of a nucleon.

or

Putting m = 1.66 x 10-27 Kg, Ro = 1.1x10-15 m, we find

(Rh0) r = 2.98 x 1017 Kg /m3

i.e., Nuclear density is same for all elements and is densely packed.

Note that the sizes of nuclei are different but density of nuclear matter is same for all nuclei. However the value of nuclear density is far more greater than atomic density.



Ask a Question? Get an Answer!

connect to a tutor


Related Searches

the nucleus is made up of?

;,  

atomic nucleus

,  

atomic nucleus energy

,  

nuclear binding energy nucleon

,  

numerical 3

,  

binding energy nucleon

,  

charge and mass

...more