Which of the following describes the ratio of protons to neutrons in a stable nucleus?

The answer that indicates the ratio of protons to neutrons in a stable nucleus is a typically close to 1 for light elements and varies for heavy elements reflects an important aspect of nuclear stability. In lighter elements, the forces that bind protons and neutrons in the nucleus are balanced effectively with a proton-neutron ratio near unity. This balance minimizes the repulsive electromagnetic forces between positively charged protons, allowing the nuclear forces that act between protons and neutrons to dominate.

As elements become heavier, the ratio of protons to neutrons must increase to counteract the additional repulsive forces caused by having more protons. Heavier nuclei tend to require more neutrons compared to protons to maintain stability, leading to a ratio that can exceed 1. This becomes necessary because neutrons help to stabilize the nucleus without adding to the repulsive forces acting between protons.

This understanding of nuclear stability is crucial in the study of atomic and nuclear physics, as it helps explain the structure and behaviors of different elements across the periodic table. It also provides insight into processes such as nuclear decay and fusion, which are influenced by the relative number of protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei.