Gamma decay and binding energy

[In_Development]

I was just doing a little test and one question that I got wrong and can't seem to rationalise the supposed correct in a satisfactory way involved gamma decay and binding energy.

What it basically asked was, if gamma decay occurs, and hence energy is released, how is the binding energy per nucleon affected?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CarlB]

When energy is released, it means that the binding is increased. The number of nucleons in gamma decay (emission of a photon, if I recall) stays constant. Therefore, the binding energy per nucleon increases.

But this belongs over in homework.