1

Liquid drop model(Weizschhers Semi-empirical Formula):

In 1935, Weizsher showed it is possible to achieve the correct explaination of the binding energy formula using analogy with the liquid drop.The various terms involved in the expalination are given as follows:

1.1

Volume energy term, Bv :

The volume contribution of the energy in the liquid drop is due to the latent heat of the liquid drop. For a liquid drop B = LMm A where, L=latent heat Mm =mass of a molecule A=no.of molecules Taking this analogy in nucleus we can write Volume term, Bv = av A where av is called volume coecent.

1.2

Surface term:

As we know in a liqud drop the surface energy is contributed by the surface tension of the liquid. Bs 4R2 And 1 R=1.07 A 3 Then

Bs = as A 3

where as is surface coecient and the negative sign indicates the reduction of energy

1.3

Columb Energy term, Bc :

If we consider a nucleus as uniformly charged sphere of radius R and having charge density Ze = 4 3 3 R we can nd the self-energy of this sphere as W = 3Z 2 e2 4 0 R

And the self energy of proton is given by 3e2 4 0 R Since we are considering already formed protons in the nucleus we must deduct the self energy of the proton.So the true columb energy term is given by Bc = = 3Z 2 e2 3e2 Z 4 0 R 4 0 R

3Z(Z 1)e2 4 0 R The negative sign indicates the disruptive natrue of the energy And on simplication Z(Z 1) Bc = ac 1 A3

1.4

The asymmetry Energy Term Ba :

This term is depends on the excess neutron term i.e (A-Z) term For a nucleus the mass term can be written as M = ZMp + N Mn B = ZMp + (A Z)MN B Substuting various terms of B we get M = AMn Z(Mn Mp ) av A + as A 3 + ac
2

Z(Z 1) a3
1

On di above wrt Z we get the condition for the stablity and determine the Z for stable condition. But perfoming and calculating for A=216 we nd Z=3 so some terms is missing in binding energy. So far we have neglected the quantized energy levels of the nucleons. Now the excess neutron (A-Z) will occupy the higher energy levels which are less tightly hold. To get Ba is simple way, we note that the number of excess neutrons is N-Z and the neutron excess per nucleon is, (N Z) A Since the total number of excess neutron is (N-Z), the total decit in nuclear binding energy is proportional to the product of these.ie Ba = aa Ba = aa (NZ )2 A

(A 2Z)2 A Thus,by incorporating a purely quantum mechanical eect in the binding energy, one can go beyond the liquid drop analogy. 2

1.5

The paring energy term Bp :

Since spins is not taking under consideration in liquid drop model and shell eects, the eect can be corrected by adding a paring energy term . The energy term is accounted by 3 Bp = ap A 4 Typically, the values of the empirical coecients are: av = 14M ev as = 13M ev ac = 0.60M ev aa = 19M ev ap = 33.5M ev for even-even = 0 for odd-even = 33.5M ev for odd -odd

Mass Parabola:
2

We can write the mass of nuclei as: M (Z, A) = A(Mn av )+as A 3 +Z[(Mp Mn ) ac A3
1

4aa ]+Z 2 [

ac A 3 + 4 aa A
1

]+aa A

= A + Z + Z 2 where = 0, for odd and even combination = 1, for odd and odd combination = 1,for even and even combination

Stablity limits against spontaneous ssion:

The success of the semi enpirical mass formula encourages Bohr and Wheeler to take idea of liquid drop model a little further and suggest an explaination for the important procss of nuclear ssion. Consider U9 22 38 nucleus divided into two nuclei with 238 A= 2 The B/A value increases from 7.6Mev to 8.5Mev.i.e 0.9 Mev per nucleon. The total increase in teh binding energy is (0.9M ev) 238 = 214M ev

3.1

Energetics of Symmetric Fission:

The energy released in a symmetric ssion is: Q = M (Z, A) 2M (Z/2, A/2)

From the semi-empirical mass formula, binding energy for a nucleus (Z,A) is: B(Z, A) = av A as A 3 ac
2

Z(Z 1) A
1 3

aa

3 (A 2Z)2 ap A 4 A

and binding energy for two ssion fragments (Z/2,A/2) is: B(Z, A) = av (A/2) as (A/2) 3 ac Giving Q = as A 3 (1 2 3 ) + ac +paring energy dierence It can be approximated as Q = as A 3 (1 2 3 ) + ac using the values of ac and as we get Q A 3 (3.38 + 0.22
2 2 1 2 1 2

Z(Z 1) (A/2) 3
1

aa

3 (A/2 2Z)2 ap (A/2) 4 A/2

Z(Z 1) A3
1

(1

1 23
2

Z(Z 1) A
1 3

(1

1 23
2

Z(Z 1) ) A

From this we see thta Q becomes greater than 0 for Z2 15 A

238 for the symmetric ssion of U92 ,

(238) 3 (3.38 + .22

92(92 1) )M ev = 170M ev 238