(a) Draw a plot showing the variation of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation . Mark the regions where the nuclear force is :
(i) attractive and (ii) repulsive.
(b) In the nuclear reaction
`n+underset(92)(235_(Uto))underset(54" ")(a_(Xe+))underset(b" ")(94_(Sr+2n))` determine the values of a and b .

Explanation

(a)
(b) In nuclear reactions , mass no .is conserved Hence ,
1 + 235 = a+ 94 +2
`rArr a= 236 - 96 = 140`.
In nuclear reactions , charge no. is conserved
Hence , `0+92=54+b+0`
`rArr b=92-54=38`.