The binding energy per nucleon in a nucleus is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The binding energy per nucleon is highest for medium-sized nuclei. This is because in such nuclei, the strong nuclear force among the nucleons is strong enough to overcome the electromagnetic repulsion among the protons, and the number of neutrons is sufficient to stabilize the nucleus. For very small nuclei, the electromagnetic repulsion dominates, and for very large nuclei, the strong nuclear force is not sufficient to hold the nucleus together, leading to instability.

The Binding Energy Per Nucleon in a Nucleus Is