Is binding energy positive or negative?

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SUMMARY

Binding energy is definitively considered positive in nuclear physics. It is defined as the energy released when a nucleus is formed from its constituent neutrons and protons, as well as the energy required to decompose a nucleus into its individual nucleons. Both definitions ultimately indicate that binding energy is a measure of the stability of a nucleus, and the convention is to treat it as a positive quantity, disregarding negative signs.

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xenogizmo
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Hey Everyone,
This is a quick question.. is binding energy positive or negative? I'm pretty confused now, because in some places the definition was:

The energy released when the nucleus of an atom is formed by combining neutrons and protons.

And in other places:

the energy required to decompose a nucleus into its component nucleons

Dont they both imply different signs? Please clarify..
Thank you..
A.Z.H
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Binding energies are taken as positive, so use either definition and ignore negative signs.
 

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