For the nucleus

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

For the nucleus

^{16}\!\mathrm{O}

, answer the following. Use the data: mass of proton

m_p = 1.007276\,\text{u}

, mass of neutron

m_n = 1.008665\,\text{u}

, mass of the

^{16}\!\mathrm{O}

nucleus

m_{\text{nuc}} = 15.994915\,\text{u}

;

1\,\text{u} = 931.5\,\text{MeV}\,c^{\!-2}

. (i) Define mass defect and binding energy of a nucleus. (ii) Calculate the mass defect of

^{16}\!\mathrm{O}

in atomic mass units (u). (iii) Determine the total binding energy of the nucleus in MeV. (iv) Hence compute the binding energy per nucleon for

^{16}\!\mathrm{O}

and comment briefly on its stability compared with the value

8.8\,\text{MeV}

per nucleon for iron.