Question

Which of the following is a wrong description of binding energy of a nucleus?

• A. It is the energy required to break a nucleus into its constituent nucleons.
• B. It is the energy made available when free nucleons combine to form a nucleus.
• C. It is the sum of the rest mass energies of its nucleons minus the rest mass energy of the nucleus.
• D. It is the sum of the kinetic energy of all the nucleons in the nucleus.

Answer 1

The correct option is D

It is the sum of the kinetic energy of all the nucleons in the nucleus.

Binding energy is not the sum of the kinetic energy of all the nucleons in the nucleus. Rest of the statements are correct.