Chapter 40, Problem 18A

To determine

Whether the mass per nucleon of a nucleus greater than, less than or the same as the mass of nucleon outside a nucleus.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The sum of number of protons and number of neutrons in the nucleus is called the nucleons. The mass of the nucleons is nearly same as the atomic mass of the element.

All nucleons of an atom remain in the nucleus. The mass per nucleon inside the nucleus is less than the mass of nucleon outside the nucleus because the mass of the nucleus is the mass of total nucleons but the mass per nucleon is the mass of a single nucleon.

Conclusion:

Thus, the mass per nucleon inside the nucleus is less than the mass of nucleon outside the nucleus.