Mass defect is the difference between the expected mass and the actual mass of an atom or nucleus.
Binding energy is the energy required to break up an atom or nucleus into its constituent parts.
The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons, with the actual mass being less than the sum of the separate particles.
The binding energy of Helium is E = Δmc2, where Δm is the mass difference between the atomic mass and the sum of the atomic mass and the atomic number, and c2 is the speed of light squared.
The binding energy of 238U indicates the total energy involved in holding the nucleus together.
The stability of the nucleus is determined by the binding energy per nuclear particle.
The nuclei with the greatest binding energy per nucleon are the most stable.
The "missing" mass in the nucleus is in the form of energy holding the nucleus together.
To determine the massdefect, distinguish the number of protons and neutrons of the element or radioisotopes.
The proton number is equal to the atomic number while the neutron number is the difference of mass number and atomic number.
Multiply the number of protons to the mass of proton which is 1.00727647 amu.
Multiply the neutron number to the mass of neutron which is 1.00866440 amu.
Add the mass of protons and mass of neutrons to get the expected mass.
To determine the binding energy, multiply the mass defect (Δm) and the c2 which is 931.5 MeV/amu.
E = Δmc2 is the binding energy, measured in MeV/amu.
Mass defect, measured in amu, is represented as Δm = m_e - m_a.
Expected mass, measured in amu, is represented as m_e = Δm + m_a.
Actual mass, measured in amu, is represented as m_a = Δm - m_e.
Mass defect, Δm, is calculated as m_e - m_a.
The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons.
Actual mass is less than the mass of separate particles.
Mass defect indicates the total energy involved in holding the nucleus together.
Alpha particle is represented as helium nucleus.
Beta particle is represented as electron.
Gamma ray is represented as high-energy proton.
Half-life is the amount of time it takes one half of a sample or rad to decay.