Electron vs. Nucleon Release – Rankers Physics

Atomic Structure: Practice Problem & Solution

Assertion (A): It is easier to release an orbital electron, but quite difficult to release a nucleon. Reason (R): An electron is much lighter than a nucleon.  
Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution Explained:

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Atomic Structure. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

Electron binding energies are in eV, nucleon binding energies in MeV, so (A) is true. Electron mass \(9.11 \times 10^{-31}\text{ kg}\) is much less than nucleon mass \(1.67 \times 10^{-27}\text{ kg}\), so (R) is true. The difference in ease of release is due to different fundamental forces, not primarily mass. So (R) does not explain (A).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Practice Questions

Explore conceptually related problems to test your knowledge.

1. Assertion (A): Atoms of greater mass number are more stable. Reason (R): Their mass defects are more.  
2. 15. The threshold frequency for a photosensitive metal is $3.3 \times 10^{14} Hz$. If light of frequency $8.2 \times 10^{14} Hz$ is incident on this metal, the cut-off voltage for the photoelectric emission is nearly: (2011 Mains)
3. In a Rutherford scattering experiment, when a projectile of charge $z_1$ and mass $M_1$ approaches a target nucleus of charge $z_2$ and mass $M_2$, the distance of closest approach is $r_0$. The energy of the projectile is (2009)
4. Assertion (A): Energy is released when heavy nuclei undergo fission or light nuclei undergo fusion. Reason (R): For heavy nuclei, binding energy per nucleon increases with increasing (Z) while for light nuclei, it decreases with increasing (Z).
5. Assertion (A): In a Bohr's atom, frequency of revolution of an electron in its orbit is same as frequency of spectral line, for transition between large quantum numbers. Reason (R): As Principal quantum number increases in a Bohr's atom, energy gap between the energy levels decreases.