Question

Calculate the mass defect and binding energy per nucleon for an alpha particle (containing two protons and two neutrons) whose actual mass is 4.0028 amu (mass of proton = 1.00759 amu, mass of nuetron = 1.00898 amu).

Answer 1

`alpha`-particle has 2p and 2n
`:.` Mass of 2p+2n in `alpha`-particle`=(2xx1.0073)+(2xx1.0087)=4.032` amu
Actual mass of a-particle (given)=4.0028 amu
`:. ` Mass defect `=4.032-4.0028=0.0292` amu.
Now BE=Mass defect`xx931=0.0292xx931=27.1852`MeV
`:. "BE"//"Nucleon"=(27.1852)/(4)=6.7963 "MeV"`