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Is the mass of an atomic nucleus greater or less than the total mass of the nucleons that compose it?In: Physics
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Because the masses of nucleons are so small and the forces which hold the nucleus are so strong, the full relativistic understanding of mass given by Einstein's E=mc^2 must be used in considering these systems.
Thus, the mass of the nucleus considered as a single particle must be equal to the energy of the nucleus if it were at rest. This includes the rest energy, or mass energy, of all of the nucleons from which the nucleus is made as well as the potential energy of each nucleon due to the nuclear strong force which binds it to the others to form the nucleus. Because this force is attractive the overall potential energy is negative (this is actually the simplest way to define being bound together), and thus the mass of the nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the nucleons from which it is assembled.
Thus, the mass of the nucleus considered as a single particle must be equal to the energy of the nucleus if it were at rest. This includes the rest energy, or mass energy, of all of the nucleons from which the nucleus is made as well as the potential energy of each nucleon due to the nuclear strong force which binds it to the others to form the nucleus. Because this force is attractive the overall potential energy is negative (this is actually the simplest way to define being bound together), and thus the mass of the nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the nucleons from which it is assembled.
First answer by Smoothone0. Last edit by Smoothone0. Contributor trust: 6 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 4 [recommend question].
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