Practise reading binding energy per nucleon from the curve and explaining energy release when fission or fusion products move towards more tightly bound nuclei near the peak.
This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about renewable energy. Part 2 is about nuclear energy and radioactivity.
A small coastal community decides to use a wind farm consisting of five identical wind turbines to generate part of its energy. At the proposed site, the average wind speed is 8.5 m s−1 and the density of air is 1.3 kg m−3. The maximum power required from the wind farm is 0.75 MW . Each turbine has an efficiency of 30 %.
On the axes, sketch a graph showing the variation of nucleon number with the binding energy per nucleon.
generally correct shape with maximum shown, trending down to U-235; maximum shown somewhere between 40 and 70 ;
Award [0] for straight line with positive gradient from origin.
Award [1] if maximum position correct but graph begins to rise or flatlines beyond or around U-235.
Explain, with reference to your graph, why energy is released during fission of U-235.
identifies fission as occurring at high nucleon number / at right-hand side of graph;
fission means that large nucleus splits into two (or more) smaller nuclei/nuclei to left of fissioning nucleus (on graph);
(graph shows that) fission products have higher (average) binding energy per nucleon than U-235;
energy released related to difference between initial and final binding energy; Award [2 max] if no reference to graph.