Answer: 10-15 m.
- A 10-9 m
- B 10-12 m
- C 10-10 m
- D 10-15 m
Correct answer: D. 10-15 m
Explanation: 1 fermi = 1 femtometre = 10-15 m, the order of nuclear radii.
Binding energy per nucleon rises sharply for light nuclei, peaks around iron-56 (the most stable nucleus), then slowly declines for heavier nuclei - which is exactly why fusing light nuclei or splitting heavy nuclei both release energy: each moves the products toward this stability peak.
Concept context
Radioactivity, nuclear reactions, fission, fusion, and binding energy.