Questions tagged [binding-energy]
Please use binding energy in the context of the atomic scale and/or atomic systems. This can be used in nuclear reactions.
509
questions
7
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Binding energy of a nucleus is positive?
I have found from this link http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/nucbin.html that:
Nuclei are made up of protons and neutron, but the mass of a nucleus is always less than the sum of the ...
- 24.2k
0
votes
1
answer
160
views
What is the meaning of negative energy?
In Bohr's model I studied that energy of an electron in the $nth$ shell is given by:
$$E_{n}=-13.6 × \frac{Z^2}{n^2} eV.$$
Clearly, the energy of the electron comes out to be negative. But what is the ...
- 202k
1
vote
1
answer
40
views
Conjugate nuclei
I'm trying to find an explanation for the difference in binding energies between conjugate nuclei being governed by the Coulomb interaction. I was looking at the semi-empirical mass formula and trying ...
- 2,608
10
votes
2
answers
933
views
Why is the number of isotopes of an element bounded?
Is there a known reason why any given element has finitely many isotopes? Here I mean both stable and unstable isotopes.
If we know this, do we have a reason why, for a given element, are the isotopes ...
- 15.4k
0
votes
1
answer
98
views
Why does the binding energy per nucleon rise as the nucleon number rises, then go down again, with nuclei heavier than iron? [duplicate]
As the strong nuclear force is a short range force, and as it is way stronger than Coulomb force, Lumen Learning answered my question as follows:
“for low-mass nuclei, the nuclear attraction dominates ...
- 234k
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the theoretical efficiency of fusion?
What is the theoretical limit of the amount of energy that can be extracted from a fusion reaction? I am not talking about the practical efficiency of a reactor, but rather what fraction of the mass-...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
68
views
Binding energy per nucleon of the nucleus [closed]
I'm trying to calculate the binding energy in MeV per nucleon of the nucleus for Sulphur-34. However, I am told that my calculation is wrong and that the mass of the electrons do not have to be taken ...
- 39.5k
4
votes
2
answers
969
views
Is nuclear force always attractive?
I read in my high school physics's textbook that nuclear force holds the nucleus. Is the nuclear force another name for the strong force? If it holds the nucleus it should be attractive. Am I right?
- 234k
1
vote
1
answer
45
views
Proton to neutron mass ratio while free versus when bound inside the nucleus?
Is the proton to neutron mass ratio different while they are free versus when they are bound inside a nucleus?
- 234k
0
votes
2
answers
179
views
Is electric potential energy responsible for energy release in nuclear fission and nuclear potential energy in fusion? What if elec. force not exist?
It was my doubt and I thought it may be electric potential energy which is responsible for energy release in nuclear fission and by bombarding neutron we only provide energy to nucleons to cross ...
- 26
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Binding energy converted to kinetic energy/mass loss
My particular question is regarding nuclear fission, but applies to other nuclear processes as well.
I understand that in nuclear fission, the two fragment nuclei have a higher binding energy per ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Why higher the binding energy per nucleon, more stable the nucleus is.?
Binding energy per nucleon is a measure of how stable the nucleaus is. is this true.? I looked at few answers on this site but there is no clear agreement on it.
- 35.3k
0
votes
0
answers
52
views
$Q$ number equal to 0
What would $Q$ number equal to zero tell us about how the reaction occurs since $Q<0$ means energy needs to be supplied and $Q>0$ meaning the reaction occurs spontaneously. E.g. does $Q=0$ mean ...
- 202k
0
votes
1
answer
47
views
Effect of electrical potential energy in the binding energy of an nucleus?
The binding energy of a nucleus with $Z$ protons and $N=A-Z$ neutrons is given by
$$B=(Zm_p+Nm_n-m_{nucleus})c^2$$
In the above equation we subtract the rest mass of nucleus from the rest mass of ...
- 11.8k
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How do you measure the mass of the electron very precisely?
This week I showed my high school students that if you add the mass of a proton and the mass of an electron the result is higher than the mass of a hydrogen atom, because of the binding energy being ...
- 1,617
0
votes
1
answer
121
views
mass defect - total mass loss of one pellet
I have a task where there is a uranium pellet (mass=10g) with 3.5% U-235 and 96.5% U-238.
Now I should calculate how much mass the pellet loses. I shall only consider the decay of U-235 and consider ...
rob♦
- 89.9k
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the difference between binding energy and nuclear binding energy?
So in my book there is a chapter summary that says “nuclear binding energy is the amount of energy that is released when nucleons (protons and neutrons) bind together” and the first time it was ...
- 3,698
4
votes
2
answers
327
views
Can you expect to see Island of Stability nuclei in matter flung off of neutron stars?
Apparently, merging neutron stars fling off baryon-rich matter that condenses into heavy elements, and this has been observed electromagnetically.
It's not clear to me from the above sources whether ...
- 131k
2
votes
3
answers
623
views
Why does splitting a nucleus release energy but breaking molecular bonds requires energy?
The title pretty much says it all. Why is it that energy is required to break molecular bonds but energy is released when the bonds within the atomic nuclei are broken.
- 1,538
0
votes
1
answer
71
views
Nuclear Binding Energy Graph
I know it is a silly question to ask, but I am confused with the following concept. Can anyone please clear it?
As we know, the binding energy of H-1 is zero, so the fusion process would start from ...
- 13.7k
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
Do the experimentally obtained XPS Binding energies come from different shells? or all from the same shell ($1s$ $K$-shell)?
In experimentally obtained XPS atomic Binding Energy data like on NIST; is the ionization energy always for $1s$ electron, or it differs among elements? I checked the experimental data, and other ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Hydrogen atom: Estimation of binding energy from each force
I've been asked to give an estimation on the binding energy related to each fundamental force (gravitational, electromagnetic, weak and strong) for the Hydrogen atom (you know, the one with a single ...
- 577
0
votes
2
answers
77
views
Binding Energy and Stability in Nuclear fission
I've read that particles in nuclear fission disintegrates into two particles with higher binding energy, and in this process energy is released. Now I am just trying to understand this by common sense,...
- 202k
2
votes
1
answer
65
views
Stable number of neutrons for a given nucleus with $Z$ protons [closed]
I have been trying to derive an expression for the stable number of neutrons using the semi-empirical mass formula. I tried to derive it by dividing the Ma by total number of nucleons and then ...
- 2,652
0
votes
1
answer
90
views
What would happen if the attractive force at work in the nucleus had been equal in magnitude to the repulsive electrostatic force between the protons?
I am just starting with radioactivity and I came upon this statement:
"Since the nucleus is stable, this means that there is some attractive force at work in the nucleus and that its magnitude ...
- 58.7k
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
What is the relationship between binding energy, energy released, and mass defect? [duplicate]
Im learning about fission/fusion and cant get mass defect, binding energy, and energy released to fit together in my head.
The three are all equal in magnitude if I understand it correctly?
When, for ...
- 9,361
0
votes
1
answer
103
views
Mass energy equivalence, binding energy and chemical reactions [duplicate]
I recently was nuclear physics there I learned that the the actual mass of a nucleus is less than what we expect it to be (simply adding the masses of the nucleons). It is due to the release of ...
- 100k
5
votes
2
answers
363
views
Why is hydrogen-boron called a fusion reaction?
As we know, we usually call fusion such a reaction in which two light nuclei make a heavier one and release energy.
For fission, a heavy nucleus breaks into light ones.
My question is, in proton-boron ...
- 1,047
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Distribution of relative number of fission fragments versus mass number for uranium
For a fission of U-235 the fission fragments have a plot roughly shown below:
Is there any basic logic( undergraduate level ) with which we can anticipate this curve?
Imho the fission yield curve ...
- 1,220
2
votes
1
answer
250
views
How do we know which lighter elements fuse to form heavier elements?
Formation of lighter elements is fairly straightforward: $^4$He + $^4$He + $^4$He = $^{12}$C. However for each heavier element (heavier than Fe in particular), is there exactly one combination of (...
- 918
27
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Do chemical bonds have mass?
When an exothermic reaction occurs, the energy in the chemical bonds of the reactants is partially transferred to the chemical bonds of the products. The remaining energy is released as heat.
For ...
- 202k
2
votes
2
answers
86
views
Does the strong force explain the binding energies of nuclei?
Does the current theory of the strong force accurately predict the Nuclear Energy Binding Curve?
See definition of this curve on Wikipedia.
- 202k
0
votes
1
answer
123
views
Taylor expansion in semi-empirical mass formula derivation
I am trying to understand the derivation of the asymmetry term in the semi-empirical mass formula. I have found a useful derivation on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-...
- 202k
1
vote
1
answer
194
views
Gravitational Binding energy of a sphere of 2 uniform densities
So I know that the gravitational binding energy of a sphere of uniform density can be given by:
$$U=-\frac{16}{3}G\pi^2\rho^2\int_0^Rr^4dr$$
Which if integrated gives:
$$U=-\frac{3GM^2}{5R}$$
As ...
- 51.6k
1
vote
1
answer
175
views
Stability and Nuclear Binding Energy
I've read that the cause of
Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion lies in the fact that Nuclear Binding Energy confers stability to a nucleus. This is why too heavy or too light nuclei resort to these ...
- 131k
0
votes
5
answers
540
views
How exactly does nuclear reactor work in generating energy, when the energy created from fission transformed into binding energy?
I asked this question because I'm a bit confused about the concept of binding energy.
From my understanding, in a nuclear reactor, Uranium-235 atoms are bombarded with neutrons so that fission ...
- 9,361
4
votes
2
answers
480
views
What exactly is binding energy?
I've been reading on radioactivity but along the way I got confused, if binding energy is the amount of energy used in holding the nucleus together then why is binding energy also the amount of energy ...
- 3,698
-1
votes
1
answer
26
views
Mass changing form
I want to ask whether mass changes to charge or any other form in beta plus decay or minus decay because in beta plus decay up quark changes to down quark with formation of positron and neutrino, here ...
- 9,043
-1
votes
1
answer
140
views
Can the ratio of gravitational force to Coulomb repulsion force in the nucleus be increased by adding neutrons? How many?
As you know, the ratio of gravitational force to Coulomb repulsion force between two protons is very small. This means that the source of nuclear stability cannot be the force of gravity. Can some ...
- 2,652
1
vote
2
answers
145
views
Is mass gained from the fusing of two nuclei with nucleon numbers higher than 56?
I am just confusing myself with binding energy and the binding energy curve.
I want to know whether I have interpreted the graph right.
So when both nuclei have a nucleon number over 56 and are fused ...
- 131k
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why is Helium 4 so stable?
I've been looking at stuff to do with binding energies and was wondering why Helium 4 is so stable. The fact everything up to carbon is less stable seems a bit odd. Is there a reason for this or ...
- 322
2
votes
2
answers
268
views
Why does nuclear fusion not occur with nuclei with a nucleon number higher than 56? Please tell me if I am correct
Please tell me if my assumption is correct.
So nuclear fusion does not occur with nuclei (with a nucleon number higher than 56) because the binding energy of the product nucleus is lower than the ...
- 234k
15
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why is the mass of the proton such a precise value?
Why is the mass of the proton such a precise value?
A proton is composed of 3 net valence quarks and what is often described as "binding energy" or "a zillion gluons and quarks and anti-...
- 1,627
2
votes
2
answers
228
views
Analogy between gravitational binding energy and the binding of Atoms
When atoms bind together, their total energy is less than each individual's energy. When planets come together, their total energy is also less (i.e. nature of attractive force). The mass of each ...
- 4,408
-2
votes
1
answer
188
views
Where is mass defect in nuclear fusion? [duplicate]
The hydrogen is one proton and the helium is two protons and two neutrons. Neutron is a little heavier than the proton. But there is something strange. Where is the mass defection? As a result, the ...
- 202k
0
votes
1
answer
172
views
Gravitational bonding energy of a galaxy
If most mass from a proton comes from the nuclear force's bonding energy between quarks that make-up this proton, why wouldn't most mass from a galaxy come from the gravitational force's bonding ...
- 355k
1
vote
0
answers
29
views
Why does nature have higher atomic nuclei if Iron(Fe) has higher binding energy per nucleon? [duplicate]
From the binding energy per nucleon (B.E./A) vs atomic number (Z) we know that Iron (Fe) is most stable nuclei in the nature. Here comes the question that if nature has found the stable nuclei then ...
- 154
23
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Why is the mass of a Hydrogen atom lower than the sum of masses its parts?
I understand that when the electron and proton are arranged to form a hydrogen atom, the potential energy of the system is lower than when separated. As a result, according to mass-energy equivalence, ...
- 3,891
2
votes
1
answer
327
views
How can nuclear fusion release energy (even in principle)?
After reading a comment by @Stian Yttervik to one of the answers in this question that goes as
I would add that in both cases, the resultant products are in sum lighter than its reactants - and that ...
- 202k
1
vote
1
answer
42
views
What is the probability that two chemical species of binding energy $E$ will be bound?
This may seem like a very simple question, but I've been agonising over it for days. What is the probability, $p$, that two chemical species with binding energy $E$, will be bound.
My first instinct ...
- 3,079