Mass Defect to calculate the stability of a nucleus

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of mass defect and its relation to the binding energy of a nucleus, specifically focusing on the formation of fluorine-19. Participants explore the implications of binding energy in terms of energy release during nuclear formation and the nature of mass-energy conversion.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why energy is released to the surroundings during the formation of fluorine-19 if the same amount of energy is used as binding energy to hold the nucleus together.
  • Another participant clarifies that binding energy refers to the energy required to break a nucleus apart, suggesting that energy is released when the nucleus is formed.
  • A different participant proposes an analogy of a "rope" being formed during nuclear binding and questions why additional energy is released to the environment if it is used to create the binding.
  • Another participant counters with an analogy of magnets, stating that the sound produced when they come together represents the release of binding energy, implying no additional energy is needed for the process.
  • One participant introduces the idea that binding energy may relate to the energy required to hold together like-charged nucleons, suggesting a different perspective on the nature of binding energy.
  • A later reply mentions the mass defect in a hydrogen atom as a specific example, indicating a numerical value related to binding energy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between binding energy and energy release during nuclear formation, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the implications of mass defect and binding energy, and there are assumptions regarding the nature of energy interactions in nuclear processes that remain unaddressed.

4everphysics
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This is just a simple conceptual question.

When we try to calculate a nuclear binding energy of some nucleus,
we get the mass defect(del M) and find the binding energy by using
(del M)c^2 right?

Well, what I do not understand is this.
For instance, let's take a formation of a flourine-19.
Flourine formation(out of neutrons and protons) would be exothermic because del M is negative, but why would energy be released to the surrounding if also the same amount of energy is being used to bind the nucleus together?

Meaning, if some (x)J amount of energy is being used as a binding energy of flourine, the mass would convert to that energy and will be thus used to bind the flourine nucleus (and if that energy is being hold onto by the nucleus as a binding energy, it should not be released to the surrounding. no?)

I hope I have phrased my question right.
Thank you.
 
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Binding energy is energy required to break something apart, not to put something together. I know it sounds backwards, but it is consistent with classical picture of holding things together. If there is a force pulling two objects together, you must do work to pull them apart. Conversely, you can make them do work by letting them pull together closer. So the binding energy is released when the nucleus is formed, not absorbed.
 
So if the nucleus forms a "rope" when it is formed by converting the mass to the "rope",
why is seemingly "additional" energy released to the environment as well? when it is used up by forming the "rope"?
 
That's just not how it works. Picture two powerful magnets sticking to each other. The sound they make as they smash into each other is basically the release of the binding energy. There is nothing there that requires additional energy.
 
Magnets that snap together have opposite charge. Maybe the binding energy is the energy required to hold together like charged nucleons...
 
Look at it this way. The mass defect in a hydrogen atom is -13.6 eV, relative to a free proton and electron.
 

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