What is binding energy can anyone please explain thank you

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of binding energy, particularly in the context of nuclear physics. Participants explore its definition, implications, and the relationship between binding energy and the mass of elements, as well as the nuances involved in heavier elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks clarification on the definition of binding energy and its relation to energy outcomes.
  • Another participant references a Wikipedia article, suggesting it as a resource for understanding binding energy.
  • A participant notes a contradiction in their physics book regarding the relationship between mass and binding energy, specifically mentioning that heavier elements like uranium appear to have lower binding energy.
  • Another participant proposes a distinction between total binding energy and binding energy per nucleon, explaining that while binding energy generally increases with the number of nucleons, heavy nuclei may not gain as much binding energy when additional nucleons are added.
  • This participant emphasizes the complexity of binding energy in heavy nuclei, suggesting that the average binding energy per nucleon can vary significantly based on the specific nucleus in question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between mass and binding energy, with some suggesting a general trend while others highlight exceptions and complexities. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific implications of binding energy in heavier elements.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of binding energy and the assumptions underlying the claims about heavy elements. The nuances of binding energy per nucleon and its dependence on specific nuclei are also noted but not fully resolved.

jafer
I need to know what is binding energy and how is it equal to the outcome in energy
 
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In my physics book it says that as the element increase in mass it has more binding energy , but then like heavier elements have lower binding energy like uranium ?
 
I'm thinking that you might be confusing total binding energy and https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/npre201/coursematerial/nuclear_physics/lecture20figures/fig42.jpg.

There is a certain binding energy that keeps a nucleus together and that does generally increase with number of nucleons (although there are exceptions and more complicated features to take into account.

However /how much/ binding energy the nucleus has when you add a nucleon will depend on what you start with. Indeed really heavy nuclei start to get /too/ heavy and adding nucleons to e.g. U235 will not increase the total binding energy as much as e.g. Ne20.

This is reflected in what I called the binding energy per nucleon. This is an average of some sort and you take the total binding energy of the nucleus and divide it by the number of nucleons in the nucleus.
 

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