Chapter 2: Problem 2

What do you mean by nuclear binding energy? What is its significance?

Short Answer

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Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to disassemble a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons. It's calculated based on the mass defect of the nucleus using Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle. The significance of nuclear binding energy lies in its role in determining the stability of the nucleus, and its applications in nuclear fission and fusion reactions.

Step by step solution

Definition of Nuclear Binding Energy

Nuclear Binding Energy refers to the energy required to disassemble a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons. In other words, it's the energy needed to break down a nucleus into individual nucleons. It can also be viewed as the energy released when a nucleus is assembled from its constituents. This energy can be calculated using the Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle: \(E=mc^2\), where \(m\) is the mass defect and \(c\) represents the speed of light in a vacuum.

Calculating Nuclear Binding Energy

The mass of a nucleus is always less than the sum of the masses of its constituents, known as the mass defect. This mass defect, when multiplied by the square of the speed of light, equates to the nuclear binding energy.

Significance of Nuclear Binding Energy

Nuclear Binding Energy has immense significance. It's responsible for the stability of the nucleus. The larger the nuclear binding energy, the more stable the nucleus. Moreover, the concept of nuclear binding energy is central to nuclear reactions such as nuclear fission (used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs) and nuclear fusion (the process that powers the Sun and Stars).

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What do you mean by nuclear binding energy? What is its significance?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Definition of Nuclear Binding Energy

Calculating Nuclear Binding Energy

Significance of Nuclear Binding Energy

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