Nuclear Binding energy is the total energy that is required to separate
the neutrons and protons from one another in the nucleus. This energy is
also released when the particles combine to form a nucleus. A lot of binding
energy means a more stable nucleus. A similar idea occurs in ordinary chemistry
where sodium reacts with chlorine. These react and release a lot of energy,
the result is a very stable compound - sodium chloride.
Energy has mass. Losing energy is losing mass. In chemistry this loss
is too small to measure but the amounts of energy involved is so great
that the change in mass is easily measurable.
To calculate binding energy we add together the mass of all the protons
and the mass of all the neutrons that make up the nucleus. The total is
greater than the actual mass of the nucleus. The decrease in mass when
the nucleus is formed is the mass of the energy released. This energy can
be calculated using Einstein's formula, E = mc^2, where is the speed of
light.
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