Chapter 30, Problem 47A

To determine

To Explain: Mass defect and to what it is related.

Answer to Problem 47A

Mass defect is defined as the change between the sum of masses of all the particles of a nucleus and also the mass of the nucleus. The mass defect is related to the binding energy.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The nuclear binding energy is used to divide the atom into different parts that includes protons, neutrons and nucleons. It is always positive as all the nuclei require a fix amount of energy to divide them into protons and neutrons.

Mass defect is the change between the sum of masses of all the particles of a nucleus and also the mass of the nucleus

The original mass is always less than sum of each mass of the protons and neutrons as energy is removed when there is formation of nucleus. This mass is called as the mass defect which can be removed and can be calculated by the sum of total mass of the actual particles.

This type of defect is called as the mass defect which is not present in the nucleus and is used to represent the energy which is released when the nucleus is formed.

Conclusion:

A mass defect denotes to the change in the mass between an atom and sum of masses of the neutrons, protons, and electrons of an atom.