væskedroppenkonseptet

The liquid drop concept, or væskedroppenkonseptet in Norwegian, is a simplified model used in nuclear physics to describe the behavior of atomic nuclei. It draws an analogy between the nucleus of an atom and a tiny droplet of an incompressible liquid.

In this model, the nucleus is visualized as a sphere of uniformly dense nuclear matter. The cohesive force within the nucleus is represented by a surface tension, similar to that found in a liquid drop. The nucleons (protons and neutrons) are considered to be held together by strong nuclear forces, which act only over very short distances.

Key features of the liquid drop model include explaining nuclear binding energy and the semi-empirical mass formula. This formula accounts for various energy contributions, such as the volume energy, surface energy, Coulomb energy, and symmetry energy, which collectively determine the stability of a nucleus. The model is particularly useful for understanding nuclear fission, where the nucleus deforms and splits into smaller nuclei, much like a vibrating liquid drop breaking apart. While it has limitations and does not account for all nuclear phenomena, the liquid drop model provides a fundamental and intuitive understanding of nuclear properties.