Calculate that the proton and neutron in a deuteron

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of protons and neutrons within a deuteron, specifically addressing the question of why the deuteron does not break apart despite the particles spending time outside each other's force range. The scope includes theoretical considerations of binding energy and nuclear forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that protons and neutrons in a deuteron can spend time far apart, outside each other's force range, raising the question of why the deuteron remains intact.
  • Another participant counters that the probability of the proton and neutron being far apart is exceedingly small, arguing that if this were true, deuterons would spontaneously dissociate.
  • A third participant references a calculation indicating that protons and neutrons are far apart about 64% of the time, but expresses uncertainty about the reasons for the deuteron's stability.
  • Another participant asserts that the energy of free protons and neutrons is greater than that of a deuteron, suggesting this as a reason for the deuteron's stability.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the likelihood of protons and neutrons being far apart within a deuteron and the implications for stability. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact reasons for the deuteron's persistence despite the described conditions.

Contextual Notes

There are references to specific calculations and energy considerations, but the discussion does not resolve the assumptions or dependencies involved in these analyses.

physics_fun
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You can calculate that the proton and neutron in a deuteron spend quite some time so far away from each other, that they are outside each others force range. Why doesn't the deuteron break up? Is it because of the binding energy?
 
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The binding energy is just the energy the one would have to put into the deuteron to separate the p and n. The nuclear force is responsible for binding the p and n.

I believe the probability that the p,n in a deuteron "spending quite some time so far away from each other, such that they are outside each others force range," is exceedingly small, if not nil. If that were the case, then some deuterons would spontaneously dissociate.
 
Maybe I didn't formulate it very clear, but what I mean is this:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/physics/teaching/phy303/303soltn1.html#sols2
(2nd solution)

So in this calculation it is about 64% of the time the case.
But I don't know why the deuteron doesn't dissociate...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
physics_fun said:
But I don't know why the deuteron doesn't dissociate...

Because the energy of a free p and n is greater than the energy of a deuteron.
 

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