Nuclear Chemistry: Explaining Binding Energy and Mass Defect

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concepts of binding energy and mass defect in nuclear chemistry. When nucleons combine, they release energy due to a decrease in potential energy, not kinetic energy, as they are held together by the strong nuclear force. This phenomenon is analogous to other bound systems, such as the Earth-Moon system, where the total mass of the bound system is less than the sum of the individual masses. The mass defect arises from the principles of E=mc² and the potential energy associated with the strong nuclear force acting on nucleons.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of binding energy in nuclear chemistry
  • Familiarity with mass defect concepts
  • Knowledge of the strong nuclear force and its implications
  • Basic grasp of E=mc² and its applications in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of E=mc² in nuclear reactions
  • Explore the role of the strong nuclear force in nucleon interactions
  • Study potential energy in various physical systems
  • Investigate the relationship between mass defect and nuclear stability
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in nuclear chemistry, physicists exploring fundamental forces, and anyone interested in the principles of binding energy and mass defect in atomic structures.

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I'm doing a nuclear chemistry project right now, and I am able to solve all of the problems involving binding energy and mass defect, however I have one conceptual question. Why is it that when the nucleons combine with each other they let off energy? At first I thought it was their kinetic energy being let off because they're being held in place by the strong nuclear force, but that seems wrong for some reason. My book doesn't go into any detail about this, can someone try explaining it? Thanks in advance.
 
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Hi,

it is not kinetic energy, it is potential energy. The same holds for any kind of bound system, nuclear, electromagnetic, gravitational.

Take the Moon-Earth system for instance. In principle, the mass of the bound system has less mass than the sum of the masses of the Earth and the Moon measured independantly of each other when far away apart in empty vacuum. Of course, one cannot actually perform such an experiment. But the mass defect merely comes from E=mc2 and the potential energy.
 
In the case of subatomic particles, what kind of potential energy is it?
 
Last edited:
For nucleons : The Strong Nuclear force (Residual color force)

For quarks: The Color force and EM force.

etc.
 

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