Question

Mass defect of a nucleus refers to -

• A. Error in the measurement of atomic masses.
• B. Packing fraction of the atom.
• C. Increase in mass over local mass of its constituents to bind the atoms.
• D. Mass annihilated to produce energy to bind the nucleons.

Answer 1

The correct option is D Mass annihilated to produce energy to bind the nucleons.

Mass defect is defined as the difference between the sum of the masses of the nucleons and the mass of the nucleus.

The mass of the nucleus is always less than the sum of the masses of the nucleons.

So, the mass defect is the mass annihilated to produce energy in-order to bind the nucleons to form a nucleus.

Hence, option $\left(C\right)$ is correct.