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Question 21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.ii

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Date May 2021 Marks available [Maximum mark: 1] Reference code 21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.ii
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone TZ1
Command term Outline Question number c.ii Adapted from N/A
c.ii.
[Maximum mark: 1]
21M.2.SL.TZ1.c.ii

Radioactive uranium-238 U92238 produces a series of decays ending with a stable nuclide of lead. The nuclides in the series decay by either alpha (α) or beta-minus (β) processes.

The graph shows the variation with the nucleon number A of the binding energy per nucleon.

Outline, with reference to the graph, why energy is released both in fusion and in fission.

 

[1]

Markscheme

«energy is released when» binding energy per nucleon increases