Binding Energy Per Nucleon Calculator

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Binding Energy Per Nucleon Calculator

Enter any 2 values to calculate the missing variable

Mass Defect (atomic mass units) Number of Nucleons Binding Energy Per Nucleon (MeV)

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The Binding Energy Per Nucleon Calculator helps you determine the amount of energy required to disassemble a nucleus. In order to understand nuclear stability, this tool is too cruicial. Elements like Fe-56 have the highest binding energy per nucleon, making them the most stable. This calculator simplifies calculating nuclear binding energies for isotopes like Uranium-235 and Uranium-238.

Formula:

The formula is:

$$\text{BE} = \frac{\Delta m \times c^2}{A}$$

Variable	Meaning
BE	Binding Energy Per Nucleon (energy required to bind a nucleus together)
Δm	Mass Defect (difference between the mass of the nucleus and its components)
c	Speed of Light (constant, approximately $3 \times 10^8 \, \text{m/s}$)
A	Mass Number (the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus)

How to Calculate ?

To calculate the Binding Energy Per Nucleon (BE):

1. Multiply the mass defect (Δm) by the square of the speed of light (c²).
2. Divide the result by the mass number (A), which is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. This gives the binding energy per nucleon, which indicates how tightly the nucleons (protons and neutrons) are held together in a nucleus.

Solved Calculations :

Example 1:

Given:

• Mass Defect (Δm) = 0.01 kg
• Speed of Light (c) = $3 \times 10^8$ m/s
• Mass Number (A) = 56

Calculation	Instructions
Step 1: BE = $\frac{\Delta m \times c^2}{A}$	Start with the formula.
Step 2: BE = $\frac{0.01 \times (3 \times 10^8)^2}{56}$	Replace Δm with 0.01 kg, c with $3 \times 10^8$ m/s, and A with 56.
Step 3: BE = $\frac{0.01 \times 9 \times 10^{16}}{56}$	Square the speed of light.
Step 4: BE = $\frac{9 \times 10^{14}}{56}$	Multiply the mass defect by $9 \times 10^{16}$
Step 5: BE = $1.607 \times 10^{13} \, \text{J}$	Divide by the mass number (56) to get the binding energy per nucleon.

Answer:
The binding energy per nucleon is $1.607 \times 10^{13} \, \text{J}$.

Example 2:

Given:

• Mass Defect (Δm) = 0.02 kg
• Speed of Light (c) = $3 \times 10^8$ m/s
• Mass Number (A) = 100

Calculation	Instructions
Step 1: BE = $\frac{\Delta m \times c^2}{A}$	Start with the formula.
Step 2: BE = $\frac{0.02 \times (3 \times 10^8)^2}{100}$	Replace Δm with 0.02 kg, c with $3 \times 10^8$ m/s, and A with 100.
Step 3: BE = $\frac{0.02 \times 9 \times 10^{16}}{100}$	Square the speed of light.
Step 4: BE = $\frac{18 \times 10^{14}}{100}$	Multiply the mass defect by $9 \times 10^{16}$.
Step 5: BE = $1.8 \times 10^{13} \, \text{J}$	Divide by the mass number (100) to get the binding energy per nucleon.

Answer:
The binding energy per nucleon is $1.8 \times 10^{13} \, \text{J}$.

What is Binding Energy Per Nucleon Calculator?

Binding Energy Per Nucleon Calculator lets you know the energy required to separate a nucleus into its individual nucleons. It is a crucial concept in nuclear physics and chemistry that helps us  tounderstand nuclear stability. It is calculated using the mass defect (the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the sum of its constituent protons and neutrons) and Einstein’s equation, E=mc².

The binding energy per nucleon is typically expressed in MeV and can be computed by dividing the total binding energy of the nucleus by the number of nucleons it contains.

Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 have different binding energies due to their unique nucleon configurations. The highest binding energy per nucleon is found in Iron-56 (Fe-56), which is the most stable nucleus, thereby, it  requires the most energy to break apart. This is reflected in the binding energy per nucleon chart, which shows the variation in nuclear stability across elements. The binding energy per nucleon graph peaks around Fe-56, explaining why heavy elements like uranium are less stable and prone to fission.

To calculate binding energy per nucleon, you need the mass defect and apply the formula in MeV. The curve of binding energy per nucleon indicates the most stable nuclei, making it a vital tool in nuclear energy calculations.