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Liquid Drop Model of Nucleus  PDF Button

One of the rst models which could

describe very well the behavior of the
nuclear binding energies and therefore Search ... 
of nuclear masses was the mass
formula of von Weizsaecker (also called
the semi-empirical mass formula –
_________________________________
SEMF), that was published in 1935 by
German physicist Carl Friedrich von
Weizsäcker. This theory is based on the
liquid drop model proposed by George
Gamow.

According to this model, the atomic

nucleus behaves like the molecules in a
drop of liquid. But in this nuclear scale, With our simple quizzes, you can test your
the uid is made of nucleons (protons knowledge.
and neutrons), which are held together
For full resolution see:
by the strong nuclear force. The liquid
drop model of the nucleus takes into Nuclear Reactions
account the fact that the nuclear forces
on the nucleons on the surface are different from those on nucleons in the interior of the nucleus. Neutron Nuclear Reactions
The interior nucleons are completely surrounded by other attracting nucleons. Here is the analogy
with the forces that form a drop of liquid. ___________________________

In the ground state the nucleus is spherical. If the suf cient kinetic or binding energy is added, this
spherical nucleus may be distorted into a dumbbell shape and then may be splitted into two Story of Megawatts
fragments. Since these fragments are a more stable con guration, the splitting of such heavy nuclei
must be accompanied by energy release. This model does not explain all the properties of the
atomic nucleus, but does explain the predicted nuclear binding energies.  Uranium

The nuclear binding energy as a function of the mass number A and the number ofprotons Z based  Nuclear Fuel
on the liquid drop model can be written as:
 Fuel Consumption

 Energy Release

 Reactor Power

 Second Law of Thermodynamics

 Rankine Cycle

 Steam Turbine
This formula is called the Weizsaecker Formula (or the semi-empirical mass formula). The physical
meaning of this equation can be discussed term by term.
 Main Generator

 Volume term

Recent pages:
 Surface term

 Coulomb term  Two-phase Fluid Flow

Asymmetry term
 Natural Circulation


 Head Loss – Pressure Loss

 Pairing term

 Second Law of Thermodynamics

With the aid of the
Weizsaecker formula  Thermal Ef ciency
the binding energy can
be calculated very well  What is Enthalpy
for nearly all isotopes.
This formula provides a  Delayed Neutrons
good t for heavier
nuclei. For light nuclei,  Prompt Neutrons
especially for 4He, it
provides a poor t. The  Shielding of Ionizing Radiation
main reason is the
formula doesWenot Directthat
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you agree with it. Ok
consider the internal
 Compound Nucleus Reactions
shell structure of the
nucleus.
Nuclear binding energy curve.  Uranium
In order to calculate the Source: hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu
binding energy, the
coef cients aV, aS, aC, aA and aP must be known. The coef cients have units of megaelectronvolts
Story of Neutrons
(MeV) and are calculated by tting to experimentally measured masses of nuclei. They usually vary
depending on the tting methodology. According to ROHLF, J. W., Modern Physics from α to Z0 ,
Wiley, 1994., the coef cients in the equation are following:  Source Neutrons

 Properties of the Neutron

 Neutron Energy
Using the Weizsaecker formula, also the mass of an atomic nucleus can be derived and is given by:
 Interactions of Neutrons with Matter
m = Z.mp +N.mn -Eb/c2
 Neutron Diffusion Theory
where mp and mn are the rest mass of a proton and a neutron, respectively, and Eb is the nuclear
binding energy of the nucleus.From the nuclear binding energy curve and from the table it can be  Effective Multiplication Factor
seen that, in the case of splitting a 235 U nucleus into two parts, the binding energy of the
 Reactivity
fragments (A ≈ 120) together is larger than that of the original 235 U nucleus.

According to the Weizsaecker formula, the total energy released for such reaction will be
approximately 235 x (8.5 – 7.6) ≈ 200 MeV.

Table of binding energies fo some nuclides. Calculated according to the semi-empirical mass
formula.

The minimum excitation energy required for ssion to occur is known as the critical energy (Ecrit ) or
threshold energy.


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This table shows critical energies compared to binding energies of the last neutron of a number of
nuclei.

See previous: See above: See next:

 Binding Energy  Nuclear Fission  Critical Energy

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