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QPage 440: Q4: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 The Nucleus Page 440: Q4 Solution: Is it easier to take out a nucleon a) from carbon or from iron…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often equate a larger total binding energy (heavier nucleus) with a nucleon being harder to remove, overlooking that removal difficulty is governed by the binding energy per nucleon, which peaks near iron. Remember to compare $E_{B}/A$, not the total $E_{B}$, when judging how easily a nucleon can be knocked out.

Is it easier to take out a nucleon a) from carbon or from iron b) from iron or from lead?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** (a) It is easier to take out a nucleon from carbon than from iron. (b) It is easier to take out a nucleon from lead than from iron. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** The ease of removing a nucleon depends on the **binding energy per nucleon**. The binding energy per nucleon reaches a maximum around iron (A � 56). This means iron is the most tightly bound nucleus, and it is hardest to remove a nucleon from it. Carbon (A = 12) has a lower binding energy per nucleon than iron, so it is easier to remove a nucleon from carbon. Lead (A = 208) also has a lower binding energy per nucleon than iron, so it is easier to remove a nucleon from lead than from iron[citation:1][citation:7].

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