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What is binding energy, as defined for an atomic nucleus?
AThe total kinetic energy of every proton in the nucleus
BThe energy needed to change a neutron into a proton
CThe energy released only during radioactive decay
DThe energy equivalent of a nucleus's mass deficit
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The energy equivalent of a nucleus's mass deficit
1. A stable nucleus has less mass than the sum of its separate protons and neutrons.
2. Binding energy is the energy equivalent of that mass difference, found using E = mc^2.
3. It is not simply the kinetic energy of the protons, nor is it the energy of a single neutron-to-proton change.
4. Binding energy is released when the nucleus forms, not only during radioactive decay afterward.
5. So the energy equivalent of the nucleus's mass deficit is correct.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 "Special Relativity", section 10.2 Consequences of Special Relativity_
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