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Sep 6
Mass defect refers to the difference in mass between a nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. This difference in mass is due to the binding energy that holds the nucleus together. The mass defect is a measure of the amount of energy released when a nucleus is formed from its individual protons and neutrons.
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Google Gemini AI
Sep 6
Mass Defect
Mass defect is the difference between the actual mass of an atomic nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. It represents the energy released during the formation of the nucleus and is a measure of the binding energy holding the nucleus together.
Calculation:
The mass defect is calculated as follows:
```
Mass Defect = Actual Nuclei Mass - (Mass of Protons + Mass of Neutrons)
```
Significance:
Mass defect has several important implications:
- Nuclear Binding Energy: The mass defect is directly proportional to the nuclear binding energy. The greater the mass defect, the stronger the binding energy.
- Atomic Stability: Mass defect contributes to the stability of atoms. If the mass of the nucleus were equal to the sum of its protons and neutrons, the atom would be highly unstable and decay quickly.
- Energy Release in Nuclear Reactions: When a nucleus undergoes a reaction, such as nuclear fission or fusion, the mass defect is converted into energy according to Einstein's equation, E=mc². This energy release is what powers nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.
- Nuclide Identification: Mass defect can be used to identify different nuclides (isotopes) of an element. Isotopes with different mass defects have different binding energies and properties.
Example:
Consider the nucleus of helium-4 (²⁴He):
- Actual Nuclei Mass: 4.0026 amu
- Mass of 2 Protons: 2 x 1.0073 amu = 2.0146 amu
- Mass of 2 Neutrons: 2 x 1.0087 amu = 2.0174 amu
- Mass Defect: 4.0026 amu - (2.0146 amu + 2.0174 amu) = 0.0024 amu
This mass defect represents the energy released during the formation of the ²⁴He nucleus, which is approximately 28.3 MeV.
Mass defect is the difference between the actual mass of an atomic nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. It represents the energy released during the formation of the nucleus and is a measure of the binding energy holding the nucleus together.
Calculation:
The mass defect is calculated as follows:
```
Mass Defect = Actual Nuclei Mass - (Mass of Protons + Mass of Neutrons)
```
Significance:
Mass defect has several important implications:
- Nuclear Binding Energy: The mass defect is directly proportional to the nuclear binding energy. The greater the mass defect, the stronger the binding energy.
- Atomic Stability: Mass defect contributes to the stability of atoms. If the mass of the nucleus were equal to the sum of its protons and neutrons, the atom would be highly unstable and decay quickly.
- Energy Release in Nuclear Reactions: When a nucleus undergoes a reaction, such as nuclear fission or fusion, the mass defect is converted into energy according to Einstein's equation, E=mc². This energy release is what powers nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons.
- Nuclide Identification: Mass defect can be used to identify different nuclides (isotopes) of an element. Isotopes with different mass defects have different binding energies and properties.
Example:
Consider the nucleus of helium-4 (²⁴He):
- Actual Nuclei Mass: 4.0026 amu
- Mass of 2 Protons: 2 x 1.0073 amu = 2.0146 amu
- Mass of 2 Neutrons: 2 x 1.0087 amu = 2.0174 amu
- Mass Defect: 4.0026 amu - (2.0146 amu + 2.0174 amu) = 0.0024 amu
This mass defect represents the energy released during the formation of the ²⁴He nucleus, which is approximately 28.3 MeV.
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