Liquid-drop model of the nucleus
= Liquid-drop model of the nucleus
= Liquid-drop model
{synonym}
A collective nuclear model that treats the nucleus as a nearly uniform fluid drop with short-range cohesive binding, surface energy and electrostatic self-energy. The <semi-empirical mass formula> incorporates these contributions, together with asymmetry and pairing terms, to describe broad binding trends. Discrete <nuclear shell> structure requires additional physics.