The Mass Defect

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Show/Hide Sub-topics (Nuclear Physics | A Level)
  1. The ɑ-particle Scattering Experiment
  2. Simple Model of The Atom
  3. Atomic Mass
  4. Mass-energy Relation
  5. The Mass Defect 
  6. Binding Energy
  7. Binding Energy Per Nucleon And Nuclear Stability
  8. Nuclear Reactions
  9. Nuclear Fission
  10. Nuclear Fusion
  11. Radioactive Decay
  12. Alpha Particles 
  13. Beta Particles 
  14. Gamma Rays
  15. Comparision of Alpha Particles, Beta Particles And Gamma Rays 
  16. Background Radiation 
  17. Activity, Half-life And Decay constant 
  18. Effects of Radiation On Living Organism 
  19. Geiger-Muller Tube/Counter 

The mass defect of a nucleus is defined as the difference between the mass of the separated nucleons and the combined mass of the nucleus.

To calculate the mass defect ΔM for a nucleus that has A protons and B neutrons:
ΔM = Amp + Bmn – Mn, where
mp = mass of a proton
mn = mass of a neutron
Mn = mass of the nucleus

To calculate the mass defect of a neutral(number of proton = number of electron) whole atom ΔMa:
ΔMa = Amp + Bmn + Ame – Ma, where
me = mass of an electron
Ma = mass of the neutral atom


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