What's the relation between Mass Defect and the Strong Nuclear Force?

In summary: So the mass defect is actually a form of energy that ties the nucleones together. The strong nuclear force is what ties them together, and is responsible for the stability of the nucleus.
  • #1
magdi_gamal
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Hello. Sorry for being annoying, I've posted like three questions today. But I'm studying nuclear chemistry and still somewhat confused regarding the binding energy and mass defect and their relation with the strong nuclear force..

1) in this Hank Green video...



He says that the mass defect is actually present in the form of energy that ties the nucleones together. Isn't that what the strong nuclear force does? Does this mean they're both the same thing? What's the relation between the two?

2) in E=MC^2.. I can see why the mass defect matters to calculate the binding energy. but how does the speed of light constant matter in this case?

3) Seeing that the binding energy is the energy needed to split the nucleones. and the strong nuclear force is what ties them together. Would it be correct to say they're opposites? and could they be calculated using that assumption?

thanks in advance..
 
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  • #2
magdi_gamal said:
He says that the mass defect is actually present in the form of energy that ties the nucleones together. Isn't that what the strong nuclear force does? Does this mean they're both the same thing? What's the relation between the two?
The mass defect is the result of the strong interaction (binding the nucleons together) and the electromagnetic interaction (as repulsive force between the protons), indeed.

2) in E=MC^2.. I can see why the mass defect matters to calculate the binding energy. but how does the speed of light constant matter in this case?
This comes from special relativity, and the factor depends on the unit system. You can use different units (called "natural units" as some constants like the speed of light are 1 there), where the equation is just E=M (better: E0=M, indicating that it is the rest energy).

3) Seeing that the binding energy is the energy needed to split the nucleones. and the strong nuclear force is what ties them together. Would it be correct to say they're opposites? and could they be calculated using that assumption?
What do you mean with "opposites"?
It is possible to estimate the nuclear binding energy with models for the strong and the electromagnetic interaction, yes. The result is the Semi-empirical mass formula.
 
  • #3
The mass defect is obviously present in atoms. The mass of individual electrons, protons and neutrons is well known and they simply fall additively short of the measured mass of atoms.
 

1. What is mass defect?

Mass defect refers to the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. This difference is caused by the conversion of some mass into energy during the formation of the nucleus.

2. How is mass defect related to the strong nuclear force?

The strong nuclear force is responsible for holding together the protons and neutrons in the nucleus. As the nucleus forms, some of the mass is converted into energy to overcome the repulsive electric forces between the protons. This results in a decrease in the total mass of the nucleus, known as the mass defect.

3. Is mass defect the same for all elements?

No, the mass defect varies for different elements. It is influenced by the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, as well as the specific arrangement and energy levels of the particles.

4. How does mass defect affect nuclear reactions?

Mass defect plays a crucial role in nuclear reactions as it determines the amount of energy released or absorbed during the reaction. In nuclear fusion reactions, where smaller nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus, the difference in mass is converted into energy. In nuclear fission reactions, where a large nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, the difference in mass is released as energy.

5. Can mass defect be measured?

Yes, mass defect can be measured using mass spectrometry techniques. By comparing the mass of a nucleus to the sum of the masses of its individual particles, scientists can determine the mass defect and use it to calculate the binding energy of the nucleus, which is a measure of the strength of the strong nuclear force.

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