Question

If a fusion process requires absorption of energy, does the average binding energy per nucleon increase or decrease?

Short answer

The average binding energy per nucleon will increase in nuclear fusion.

Step-by-step solution

Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion is the process in which two lighter nuclei of different or same atoms form a heavier nucleus by combination is called nuclear fusion. A huge amount of energy is absorbed by lighter nuclei.

Whether average binding energy per nucleon decreases or increases in nuclear fusion

The nucleus of an atom consists of two particles. One is the proton and the other is the neutron. The protons are positively charged particles while neutrons are neutral particles. The repulsive force acts between the protons of the nucleus. The stability of the nucleus depends on the binding energy per nucleon.

The binding energy per nucleon for lighter nuclei is smaller because lighter nuclei contain fewer protons in the nucleus. The heavier atom nuclei contain more protons in their nucleus than lighter nuclei.

More binding energy is necessary to balance the repulsive force between the protons of heavier nuclei so binding energy for heavier atom nuclei will increase and binding energy per nucleon will increase in nuclear fusion.

Therefore, the average binding energy per nucleon will increase in nuclear fusion.