What is the Difference Between Mass Defect and Binding Energy?

Mass defect and binding energy are two concepts related to nuclear physics and the stability of atomic nuclei. Here are the main differences between them:

• Mass Defect: Mass defect is the difference between the predicted mass of an atom's nucleus and its actual mass. It represents the missing mass in the nucleus, which is transformed into binding energy. The larger the mass defect, the greater the nuclear binding energy and the more stable the nucleus.
• Binding Energy: Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to split an atom's nucleus into individual protons and neutrons. It is the energy associated with the force that holds the nucleons (protons and neutrons) together in the nucleus. Binding energy can be calculated by multiplying the mass defect by the conversion factor (931.5 MeV/u).

In summary, mass defect is the difference between the predicted and actual mass of a nucleus, while binding energy is the energy required to break apart the nucleons in a nucleus. Mass defect is transformed into binding energy when a nucleus is formed.

Comparative Table: Mass Defect vs Binding Energy

Here is a table comparing mass defect and binding energy:

Mass defect occurs because the actual mass of an atom's nucleus is less than the predicted mass based on the sum of the masses of its individual protons and neutrons. This difference in mass is due to the energy holding the nucleus together, known as the nuclear binding energy.