Physics · Nuclear Physics
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In free states, the mass of the nucleus is always:
- A
Equal to the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons
- B
Less than the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons
- C
Greater than the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons
- D
Unpredictable and varies depending on the nucleus
This is the correct answer. The difference between the sum of the individual masses and the actual mass of the nucleus is known as the mass defect. This mass defect is converted into energy that binds the nucleons together, a phenomenon explained by Einstein's famous equation E=mc².
This is not always true. In reality, the mass of a nucleus is slightly less than the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons.
This is the correct answer. The difference between the sum of the individual masses and the actual mass of the nucleus is known as the mass defect. This mass defect is converted into energy that binds the nucleons together, a phenomenon explained by Einstein's famous equation E=mc².
The mass of a nucleus is never greater than the sum of its constituent particles.
While the mass defect can vary slightly between different nuclei, the general principle that the nucleus has less mass than its individual components is consistent
Tagged under Physics · Nuclear Physics · 2023