Mass Defect
Part of the Optics, Waves and Modern Physics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 50 of 53.
A nucleus weighs less than its nucleons apart:
Δm = Z mₚ + N mₙ − M
1 u = 1.66 × 10⁻²⁷ kg.
The missing mass left as energy, the binding energy:
E = Δm c²
Challenge
A helium-4 nucleus (⁴₂He) has a mass of 4.001506 u. Find its mass defect m_d, in u.
Try it yourself
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Optics, Waves and Modern Physics
1Reflection and Refraction
Reflection of LightThe Refractive IndexSnell's LawTotal Internal ReflectionDispersionApparent DepthRecap - Optical Fiber4Mechanical Waves
What a Wave IsTwo Graphs of a WaveWhen Pulses MeetInterferenceStanding WavesHarmonicsRecap - Guitar String