Liquid drop model

Definition

The liquid drop model is a theoretical model that describes the nucleus of an atom similarly to how a liquid drop behaves. It accounts for nuclear properties such as binding energy and fission by considering surface tension, volume energy, and Coulomb repulsion.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The liquid drop model was proposed by George Gamow in 1929 and further developed by Niels Bohr and John Archibald Wheeler.
2. It explains nuclear fission by treating the nucleus as an incompressible fluid with a balance between attractive nuclear forces and repulsive electrostatic forces.
3. The model helps calculate the binding energy of nuclei using the semi-empirical mass formula, which includes terms for volume, surface, Coulomb, asymmetry, and pairing energies.
4. While useful for explaining many properties of nuclei, the liquid drop model does not account for shell effects observed in nuclear structure.
5. This model contributed significantly to understanding why certain heavy nuclei are more susceptible to undergoing fission.

Review Questions

• What fundamental forces are balanced in the liquid drop model to describe nuclear stability?
• How does the liquid drop model explain the process of nuclear fission?
• What key limitation does the liquid drop model have regarding detailed nuclear structure?

Related terms

Binding Energy:

The energy required to disassemble a nucleus into its individual protons and neutrons.

Nuclear Fission:

A nuclear reaction or radioactive decay process where a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei.

$\text{Coulomb Force}$: $\text{Electrostatic force between charged particles within a nucleus acting in opposition to the attractive nuclear force.}$