Binding Energy

What is 'mass defect'?

Mass defect is the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum total of its constitutents.

What is 'binding energy'?

The energy to break apart the nuclear by external forces.

What is the formula for mass defect?

Mass defect: Δm = m(reactants) - m(products).

Binding Energy per Nucleon

The energy required to separate a single nucleon from the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic Mass

Number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

atomic number

the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

To solve Nuclear Equations

the total of the atomic number and the total of the mass number must be equal on both sides

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. e.g. U-235 and U-237 are Uranium but U-237 has an additional 2 neutrons.

Fission

A nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei.

Fusion

a nuclear reaction in which the nuclei of two atoms combine to form a larger nucleus

Fe-56

The most common isotope of iron that is the most stable element.

Strong Force

attractive force that acts between protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus