Summarizing Binding Energy

Summary

• The binding energy (BE) of a nucleus is the energy needed to separate it into individual protons and neutrons. In terms of atomic masses,

  \(\text{BE}=\{[\text{Zm}({}^{1}\text{H})+{\text{Nm}}_{n}]-m({}^{A}\text{X})\}{c}^{2},\)

  where \(m({}^{1}\text{H})\) is the mass of a hydrogen atom, \(m({}^{A}\text{X})\) is the atomic mass of the nuclide, and \({m}_{n}\) is the mass of a neutron. Patterns in the binding energy per nucleon, \(\text{BE}/A\), reveal details of the nuclear force. The larger the \(\text{BE}/A\), the more stable the nucleus.

Glossary

binding energy

the energy needed to separate nucleus into individual protons and neutrons

binding energy per nucleon

the binding energy calculated per nucleon; it reveals the details of the nuclear force—larger the \(\text{BE}/A\), the more stable the nucleus