The energy equivalent of one unified atomic mass unit (1 u) is closest to
A$1.602\,\text{eV}$
B$1.66\,\text{eV}$
C$931.5\,\text{MeV}$
D$8.0\,\text{MeV}$
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. $931.5\,\text{MeV}$
1. Use Einstein's mass-energy relation $E = mc^2$.
2. NCERT Example 13.3 computes: $1\,u = 1.66054\times 10^{-27}\,\text{kg}$, $c = 2.998\times 10^{8}\,\text{m/s}$.
3. $E = (1.66054\times 10^{-27})(2.998\times 10^{8})^2 = 1.4924\times 10^{-10}\,\text{J}$.
4. Convert to MeV: $1\,\text{MeV} = 1.602\times 10^{-13}\,\text{J}$, so $E = \dfrac{1.4924\times 10^{-10}}{1.602\times 10^{-13}} = 931.5\,\text{MeV}$.
5. This number is THE standard conversion used in nuclear physics: $1\,u \leftrightarrow 931.5\,\text{MeV}/c^2$. It appears in every nuclear binding-energy calculation.
6. Option A is just $1\,\text{eV}$ in joules (confusing constants). Option C is the numerical value of $u$ itself (in kg) misread as eV. Option D is the typical BE/nucleon value, not the u-equivalent.
_Source: NCERT Class 12 Physics Part 2, Ch 13, Example 13.3, p. 6._
Related questions
When fusion is achieved by raising the temperature enough to overcome Coulomb repulsion, iA nucleus influencing only the nucleons close to it shows which property of the nuclear foWhy must the nuclear binding force be much stronger than the Coulomb force?Mean life is the time at which the number of nuclei falls to what fraction of its initial Half-life is the time taken for the decay of what fraction of the initial nuclei?In alpha decay, which nucleus is emitted?How many types of radioactive decay are said to occur in nature?In the flat middle region of the curve, the binding energy per nucleon is nearly: