Numerical evaluation for the deuteron

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

Problem

Numerical evaluation for the deuteron (i) A deuteron is the nucleus of hydrogen isotope

\,_1^2\!H

. Write an expression for its mass defect in terms of the masses of one proton, one neutron and the deuteron nucleus. (ii) The following atomic masses are given:

m_p = 1.007276\,\text{u}

m_n = 1.008665\,\text{u}

, and

m_{\text{D}} = 2.013553\,\text{u}

. Calculate the mass defect and the total binding energy of the deuteron. Take

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

. (iii) Determine the binding energy per nucleon for the deuteron and the percentage of the original nucleon mass that is converted into binding energy.

Related theory

Mass-Energy Equivalence
Nuclear Binding Energy
Mass defect and binding energy
Nuclear physics
Nuclei

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