Physics 2003 JAMB Past Questions - Question 50: When a nudeus is ferried by bringing protons and neutrons together, the actual mass of the formed nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the constituent protons and neutrons. The energy equivalent of this mass difference is the

Correct Answer

C

Explanation

The energy equivalent of the mass difference when a nucleus is formed by bringing protons and neutrons together is known as the "binding energy." This concept is a fundamental principle in nuclear physics and is described by Albert Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle, as given by the famous equation E=mc^2, where E is energy, m is mass, and c is the speed of light.

In the context of atomic nuclei, when protons and neutrons come together to form a nucleus, they release energy, and the mass of the resulting nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. This mass difference is converted into binding energy, which holds the nucleus together. The binding energy is the energy required to break the nucleus apart into its constituent protons and neutrons, and it is the energy released when the nucleus is formed.

Binding energy is a crucial concept in nuclear physics and plays a significant role in nuclear reactions and the stability of atomic nuclei. The greater the binding energy per nucleon (proton or neutron) in a nucleus, the more stable the nucleus is.