Calculating Average Binding Energy per Nucleon in Deuterium

[dois]

Homework Statement

Calculate the average binding energy per nucleon in the deuterium nucleus.

Homework Equations

Average binding energy= total binding energy/mass number

The Attempt at a Solution

Would i first have to find the mass of the nucleus and then the difference in mass? My textbook uses the difference in mass and converts that's into MeV/c^2 units.

Then with the total binding energy I can find the average binding energy?

I think that's right, but I'm not to sure.

 

[Dick]

Sure. What's the difference in mass between a deuterium nucleus and the sum of the masses of the proton and an neutron that make it? Then convert it to a binding energy via E=mc^2. Just try it.

 

[ideasrule]

Would i first have to find the mass of the nucleus and then the difference in mass?

Yes, unless the textbook expects you to calculate the binding energy using theory.

I think that's right, but I'm not to sure.

Yup, it's right.