In free states, the mass of the nucleus is always:
Correct answer: B. Less than the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons
- A. Equal to the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons
- B. Less than the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons
- C. Greater than the sum of the masses of its constituent protons and neutrons
- D. Unpredictable and varies depending on the nucleus
Explanation
This is the correct answer. The difference between the sum of the individual masses and the actual mass of the nucleus is known as the mass defect. This mass defect is converted into energy that binds the nucleons together, a phenomenon explained by Einstein's famous equation E=mc².
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Atomic nuclei contain protons and neutrons, with nuclear size, mass defect and binding energy describing their stability. The work covers alpha, beta and gamma decay, decay equations, half-life and decay rate, along with radiation safety and medical applications such as imaging, radiotherapy and tracers.
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