Question

Question 1: A pair of nuclei for which Zi = N2 and Z2 N1 are called lnirror isobars. One such pair is 50 and 15N for which the atomic masses are 15.0030656 u and 15.0001088982 u, receptively. Binding energy measurements on nuclei like these can be used to assess the charge independence of the nuclear force, i.e., whether proton-proton, neutron-neutron, and neutron-proton interactions are approximately equal a) Find the biding energy for 15O b) Find the binding energy for 15N c) Calculate the percent difference between your results for parts (a) and (b). What can you conclude qualitatively regarding charge independence on the nuclear force? d) Explain why comparing binding energies for mirror isobars is a more sensitive test of the charge independence of the nuclear force than simply comparing the atomic masses.

Answer 1