The charge-to-mass ratio of a nucleus, in units of e/u, is q/m = Z/A. For example, a hydrogen nucleus has q/m = 1/1 = 1.

a. Make a graph of charge-to-mass ratio versus proton number Z for nuclei with Z = 5, 10, 15, 20, . . ., 90. For A, use the average atomic mass shown on the periodic table of elements in Appendix B. Show each of these 18 nuclei as a dot, but don’t connect the dots together as a curve.

b. Describe any trend that you notice in your graph.

c. What’s happening in the nuclei that is responsible for this trend?