IBPhysicsHLRevision NotesNuclear & Quantum PhysicsRadioactive DecayMass Defect & Nuclear Binding Energy

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Mass Defect & Nuclear Binding Energy (HL IB Physics)

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Mass Defect & Nuclear Binding Energy

  • Experiments into nuclear structure have found that the total mass of a nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of its constituent nucleons
    • In other words, the combined mass of 6 separate protons and 6 separate neutrons is more than the mass of a carbon-12 nucleus 
    • This difference in mass is known as the mass defect 
  • Mass defect is defined as:

The difference between the measured mass of a nucleus and the sum total of the masses of its constituents

  • The mass defect Δm of a nucleus can be calculated using:

increment m space equals space Z m subscript p space plus space left parenthesis A space – space Z right parenthesis m subscript n space – space m subscript t o t a l end subscript

  • Where:
    • Z = proton number
    • A = nucleon number
    • mp = mass of a proton (kg)
    • mn = mass of a neutron (kg)
    • mtotal = measured mass of the nucleus (kg)

Binding Energy, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

A system of separated nucleons has a greater mass than a system of bound nucleons

  • Due to mass-energy equivalence, a decrease in mass infers that energy must be released
  • Energy and mass are proportional, so, the total energy of a nucleus is less than the sum of the energies of its constituent nucleons
  • Binding energy is defined as:

The energy required to break a nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons

  • The formation of a nucleus from a system of isolated protons and neutrons releases energy

Worked example

The binding energy per nucleon is 7.98 MeV for an atom of Oxygen-16 (16O).

Determine an approximate value for the energy required, in MeV, to completely separate the nucleons of this atom.

Answer:

Step 1: List the known quantities

  • Binding energy per nucleon, E = 7.98 MeV

Step 2: State the number of nucleons

  • The number of nucleons is 8 protons and 8 neutrons, therefore 16 nucleons in total

Step 3: Find the total binding energy

  • The binding energy for oxygen-16 is:

7.98 × 16 = 127.7 MeV

Step 4: State the final answer

  • The approximate total energy needed to completely separate this nucleus is 127.7 MeV

Exam Tip

The terms binding energy and mass defect can cause students confusion, so be careful when using them in your explanations.

Avoid describing the binding energy as the energy stored in the nucleus – this is not correct – it is energy that must be put into the nucleus to separate all the nucleons.

The same goes for the term mass defect, make sure to only use this when all the nucleons are separated and not to describe the decrease in mass which occurs during radioactive decay.

Mass-Energy Equivalence

  • Einstein showed in his Theory of Relativity that matter can be considered a form of energy and hence, he proposed:
    • Mass can be converted into energy
    • Energy can be converted into mass
  • This is known as mass-energy equivalence, and can be summarised by the equation:

increment E space equals space increment m c squared

  • Where:
    • E = energy (J)
    • m = mass (kg) 
    • c = the speed of light  (m s-1)
  • Some examples of mass-energy equivalence are:
    • The fusion of hydrogen into helium in the centre of the sun
    • The fission of uranium in nuclear power plants
    • Nuclear weapons
    • High-energy particle collisions in particle accelerators

Worked example

Calculate the binding energy per nucleon, in MeV, for the radioactive isotope potassium-40 open parentheses straight K presubscript 19 presuperscript 40 close parentheses.

You may use the following data:

  • Nuclear mass of potassium-40 = 39.953 548 u
  • Mass of one neutron = 1.008 665 u
  • Mass of one proton = 1.007 276 u

Answer:

Step 1: Identify the number of protons and neutrons in potassium-40

  • Proton number, Z = 19
  • Neutron number, N = 40 – 19 = 21

Step 2: Calculate the mass defect, Δm

  • Proton mass, mp = 1.007 276 u
  • Neutron mass, mn = 1.008 665 u
  • Mass of potassium-40, mtotal = 39.953 548 u

Δm = Zmp + Nmn – mtotal

Δm = (19 × 1.007276) + (21 × 1.008665) – 39.953 548

Δm = 0.36666 u

Step 3: Convert mass units from u to kg

  • 1 u = 1.661 × 10–27 kg

Δm = 0.36666 × (1.661 × 10–27) = 6.090 × 10–28 kg

Step 4: Write down the equation for mass-energy equivalence

E = Δmc2

  • Where c = 3.0 × 108 m s–1

Step 5: Calculate the binding energy, E

E = 6.090 × 10–28 × (3.0 × 108)2 = 5.5 × 10–11 J

Step 6: Determine the binding energy per nucleon and convert J to MeV

  • Take the binding energy and divide it by the number of nucleons
  • 1 MeV = 1.6 × 10–13 J

Binding energy per nucleon = fraction numerator 5.5 cross times 10 to the power of negative 11 end exponent over denominator 40 end fraction space equals space 1.375 cross times 10 to the power of negative 12 end exponent J

Binding energy per nucleon = fraction numerator 1.375 cross times 10 to the power of negative 12 end exponent over denominator 1.6 cross times 10 to the power of negative 13 end exponent end fraction = 8.594 MeV

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