Explain the stability of a nuclide in terms of the operation of the strong nuclear force over very short distances, electrostatic repulsion, and the relative number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

The table below shows data for three nuclides. Compare the stability of Carbon-12 and Uranium-238 in terms of the competing forces within the nucleus.

Refer to the data below. Explain why nickel-62 is more stable than iron-56, even though iron-56 is often described as having the highest binding energy per nucleon.

The chart below shows the number of neutrons versus the number of protons for stable nuclides (shown as black dots) and the positions of three specific nuclides X, Y and Z. Nuclide X lies on the stability line with N = Z. Nuclide Y lies above the stability line with N > Z. Nuclide Z lies below the stability line with N < Z. Explain why nuclide Z is unstable, while nuclide X is stable.