Question

Why is binding energy important?

Answer 1

Binding Energy:

1. Binding energy is defined as the smallest amount of energy that is required to remove a particle from a system of particles.
2. Binding energy is necessary to split subatomic particles in atomic nuclei or the nucleus of an atom into its components namely: neutrons and protons or collectively known as the nucleons.
3. For heavy or massive nuclei, electrostatic repulsion repels the positively charged protons on opposite sides of the nucleus and the strong nuclear force is very small at these wavelengths.
4. Average binding energy is therefore small and poor.
5. The nuclear binding energy holds a significant difference between the nucleus's actual mass and its expected mass depending on the sum of the masses of isolated components.
6. Since energy and mass are related based on the following equation: $E=m{c}^2$ where $c$ is the speed of light In nuclei, $E$ is the energy of nuclei, and $m$ is the mass of the nuclei.
7. Total Binding Energy Formula, $BindingEnergy=$ $massdefect(∆m)\times$$c^2$where c represents the speed of light in a vacuum.

Explanation of the Binding Energy curve,

1. The binding energy curve says about various elements corresponding to their energy which binds the nucleus.
2. The nature of the binding energy curve is shown in the figure. It shows that binding energy per nucleon increases up to the element Fe whose atomic number is $26$ and mass number is $57$.
3. For Fe, the binding energy per nucleon becomes highest at $8.7meV$. The elements whose atomic number is greater than iron or mass no. greater than $57$, binding energy slowly decreases.
4. For the elements whose atomic mass number is around $200$, binding energy becomes around $7meV$. The element with a mass number above 200 shows radioactive behavior.
5. It is so because these elements disintegrate spontaneously without any external agents. The element whose atm. mass no. is up to $57$ and cannot disintegrate but these elements undergo a fusion process.
6. The elements with a mass number of around $57$ to around $200$ undergo the fission process but are unable to undergo the fusion process.
7. That information indicates that Fe and its nearby elements do not undergo both fusion and fission so they are most stable.
8. The Binding energy curve is an indicator ID that reflects nuclear stability.
9. It also helps to classify the element which undergoes fission, fusion, and radioactivity disintegration.

Hence, the binding energy is important.