A theoretical formula for the potential energy associated with the nuclear force between two protons, two neutrons, or a neutron and a proton is the Yukawa potential:

Where U₀ and a are constants. 

(a) Sketch U versus x using U₀ = 4 pJ (a picojoule, pJ, is 1 × 10^-12J) and a = 2.5 fm (a femtometer, fm, is 1 × 10^-15 m). 

(b) Find the force F_x. 

(c) Compare the magnitude of the force at the separation x = 2a to that at x = a. 

(d) Compare the magnitude of the force at the separation x = 5a to that at x = a.

Transcribed Image Text:

a -x/a U =-Uo