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| Binding Energy and Mass Defect |
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| An atomic nucleus is a stable structure. The nucleus is bound by very strong short range forces called nuclear forces. Certain amount of work has to be done to separate the nucleons to such a distance that there is no interaction. This work done therefore measures binding energy of the nucleus. |
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| On the basis of Einstein's theory of mass energy equivalent it was found that the rest mass of a nucleus is always slightly less than the sum of the free neutrons and protons comprising the nucleus. This indicates that some mass disappears when a nucleus is formed. This difference in the masses is called the mass defect. It is this mass defect, which appears in the form of binding energy. |
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| where Dm is the mass defect, mp is mass of a proton, mn is mass of a neutron, mN is mass of nucleus ZXA. |
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| B.E = (DmC2) = [Zmp + (A-Z)mn]C2 |
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