Draw a graph between potential energy of a pair of nucleons and separation between them. Also write its main features.

Explanation

The graph between potential energy of nucleon is as shows in the figure.

Main features :
(i) Nuclear force comes into action only upto a distance of `10xx10^(-15)m` (10 fm) and zero beyond it.
(ii) They vary distance. As distance decreases, force of attraction increases slowly upto 5 fm. This attractive force is maximum at distance 1.5 fm.
(iii) If distance is further decreased at distance 0.5 fm, it changes to repulsive. This repulsive part save the nucleus from collapsing.