Light nuclei can be split.For example,a deuteron,which is a proton-neutron combination,can split into a separate proton and separate neutron.Does such a process yield energy or cost energy? Why?
A)Yields energy.Splitting nuclei of any sort is a basic example of a nuclear reaction releasing massive amounts of energy.
B)Neither.The amount of energy required to split the light nuclei is exactly the same as that released.This is the basis of the Law of Conservation of Energy.
C)Costs energy.This fact is consistent with the sum of the masses of the separated proton and neutron being greater than the mass of the original deuteron.
D)Yields energy.This fact is consistent with the sum of the masses of the separated proton and neutron being less than the mass of the original deuteron.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

C) Costs energy. This is because splitting a deuteron into a proton and neutron requires energy input due to the mass-energy equivalence principle. The combined mass of the separated proton and neutron is greater than the mass of the deuteron, indicating that energy must be supplied to overcome the binding energy holding the deuteron together.

Light Nuclei Can Be Split