We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Nuclear Binding Energy?

By Vincent Summers
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,502
Share

The nucleus of an atom is its central core, which consists of one or more protons and, with the exception only of the lightest form of hydrogen, neutrons as well. There is no charge to a neutron, yet something keeps them from slipping out of the nucleus. In addition, every proton within the nucleus is positively charged; they should repel each other, emptying the nucleus — some energy prevents this, as well. By definition, the energy keeping all these particles within the nucleus is the “nuclear binding energy.” Since Einstein discovered the mathematical relationship that equates matter with energy — E = mc2, where E is the energy, m is the mass and c is the speed of light — the nuclear binding energy may be calculated with relative ease.

Mass within the nucleus comes from two sources. One is the mass each particle would contain if it was isolated, free from charge or gravitational interactions. The second source of mass is the increase directly attributable to the nuclear binding energy. These two sources give rise to the equation m(t) = m(fp) + m(nbf), where “t” stands for total, “fp” stands for free particle and “nbf” stands for nuclear binding force. Since there is no such thing as negative energy, the mass attributable to the nuclear binding energy must be positive and the energy of a total nucleus, greater than the sum of its neutrons and its protons.

Inserting this form of the mass into the original equation, the total energy of a nucleus is E(t) = m(t)c2. Expanding this equation in full gives E(t) = (m(fp) + m(nbf))c2. Multiplying this out gives E(t) = m(fp)c2 + m(nbf)c2. Now, if the energy attributable to isolated individual particles is subtracted out, that equation reduces to E(t) - E(fp) = ΔE = m(nbf)c2, where ΔE is the increase in energy above that of free particles — the nuclear binding energy.

Nuclear fission, or the splitting of the atomic nucleus to produce smaller atoms, each of which has its own binding energy, is of particular importance to the design and operation of power plants. The binding energy of the resultant atoms, subtracted from the binding energy of the starting atoms, gives the net yield that is either applied constructively or destructively. Constructive uses of this nuclear energy include the production of electricity, measuring nearly a fifth of all electric power in the United States and more than three-quarters of the power used in France.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-nuclear-binding-energy.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.