Chapter 10, Problem 10C.1BST

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The nuclear binding energy of Uranium-235 nucleus has to be given.

Concept Introduction:

Nuclear binding energy and the mass defect:

Nuclear binding energy is the minimum energy that would be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts.  These component parts are neutrons and protons which are collectively called nucleons.  The mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the sum of the individual masses of the free constituent protons and neutrons according to Einstein’s equation ${\text{E=mc}}^{\text{2}}$.  The missing mass is known as the mass defect and represents the energy that was released when the nucleus was formed.

  $\Delta \text{m=m}\left(\text{nucleus}\right)\text{-}\sum \text{m}\left(\text{nucleons}\right)$