Question 15 Marks
If the nucleons of a nucleus are separated from each other, the total mass is increased. Where does this mass come from?
Answer
View full question & answer→When the nucleons of a nucleus are separated, a certain amount of energy is to be given to the nucleus, which is known as the binding energy. Binding energy = [(Number of nucleons) × (Mass of a nucleon) - (Mass of the nucleus)] When the nucleons of a nucleus are separated, the increase in the total mass comes from the binding energy, which is given to the nucleus to break-off its constituent nucleons as energy is related to mass by the relation given below.$\text{E}=\Delta\text{mc}^2$
