Liquid Drop Model
A classical nuclear model treating the atomic nucleus as an incompressible liquid droplet of dense nuclear fluid bound by short-range nuclear forces.
Governing formula
E_b = a_v A - a_s A^(2/3) - a_c Z²/A^(1/3) - a_a (A-2Z)²/A + δ
SI unit
MeV (Binding Energy Calculation)
In depth
Formulated by George Gamow, Niels Bohr, and John Wheeler. The Semi-Empirical Mass Formula (SEMF) accounts for volume energy, surface tension reduction, Coulomb proton repulsion, asymmetry energy, and spin-pairing terms to accurately model nuclear binding energy and fission distortion.
Examples in the real world
Calculating the critical deformation energy required for a Uranium-235 nucleus to undergo nuclear fission.