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Chapter 7 — Chapter 7 — Nuclear and Particle Physics
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📘Easy summary
An atomic nucleus is represented by the symbol ᴬ_ZX, a nuclide. Experiments show that the mass of a nucleus is always less than the total mass of all the protons and neutrons making it up. The lost or missing mass is called mass defect: Δm = Zm_p + (A − Z)m_n − m_nucleus. The equivalent energy, from Einstein's relation E = Δmc², is the binding energy of the nucleus — the work done on the nucleus to break it into its constituent neutrons and protons. 1 u = 1.66 × 10⁻²⁷ kg ≡ 931 MeV.
⭐Key points
- Δm = Zm_p + Nm_n − m_nucleus.
- B.E. = Δmc².
- 1 u = 931 MeV.
🔬Diagram
🌿Real-life example
Deuteron: Δm = (1.6726 + 1.6749 − 3.3435) × 10⁻²⁷ = 4.0 × 10⁻³⁰ kg ⇒ E ≈ 2.2 MeV.
💡Exam tip
- Mass of nucleus < sum of nucleon masses — always.
✅Quick check
1. Mass of a nucleus is always:
2. 1 u is equivalent to:
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