Question

Is binding energy positive or negative?

Answer 1

Explanation:

1. Nuclear binding energy is the amount of energy necessary to disassemble the nucleus into its constituent parts.
2. If more binding energy is required to disassemble an atom into component components, we can consider it stable.
3. If the binding energy is 0, the nucleus can shatter without releasing any energy.
4. If the binding energy is negative, the nucleus is exceedingly unstable, and energy can only be produced by shattering it, which is impossible.

Hence, the binding energy is positive.