Mass-Energy Equivalence

Work is required to remove a nucleon from a stable nucleus because of the strong nuclear force The binding energy of a nucleus is the energy required to separate all of its nucleons and move them infinitely far apart

The maximum binding energy per nucleon is between A =50 and A =74 (most stable)

Comparison of Atomic & Nuclear binding energy

Mass Defect
The mass of a nucleus is always less than the mass of all the separate nucleons (protons and neutrons) this difference in mass is called the mass defect

 the binding energy is related to the mass defect by the equation E = mc2

Example
Determine the mass defect and binding energy of an alpha particle.

Solution
alpha particle mass (2 protons, 2 neutrons) = 6.65 x 10-27 kg (data sheet) mass of 2 protons = 2 x 1.67 x 10-27 kg = 3.34 x 10-27 kg mass of 2 neutrons = 2 x 1.67 x 10-27 kg = 3.34 x 10-27 kg total mass of separate nucleons = 6.68 x 10-27 kg

 mass defect = proton mass + neutron mass - mass = 0.03 x 10-27 kg E = mc2 E = (0.03 x 10-27 kg)(3.00 x 108 m/s)2 E = 2.70 x 10-12 J

 in nuclear reactions, mass is converted to energy or energy is converted to mass

Conservation of mass-energy principle

Example
Calculate the energy produced in the reaction

2H

mass = 3.34341 x 10-27 kg 3H mass = 5.00661 x 10-27 kg

Solution
Total mass of reactants = 8.35002 x 10-27 kg The total mass of the products = 8.3212x10-27 kg Mass defect =8.35002x10-27 kg 8.3212x10-27 kg = 2.882 x 10-29 kg

 E = mc2 E = (2.882 x 10-29 kg)(3.00 x 108 m/s)2 E = 2.59 x 10-12 J in the form of kinetic energy of products

STS
In a CANDU reactor, 1 kg of fuel (natural uranium) produces 3.4 x 105 MJ of heat that is converted to electricity in oil and coal power plants 1 kg of fuel produces about 4 MJ of heat

Pair Production
a very high energy photon may create matter The process must produce 2 particles whose total charge is zero, since charge & momentum must be conserved.

 A particle and its antiparticle (antimatter) are often produced (i.e. an electron and antielectron) have the same mass and other properties, but opposite signs

Bubble chamber track Neutral particles do not leave a track

Example
A 8.50 x 1020 Hz photon produces an electron and an anti-electron. Determine the total kinetic energy of the particles.

Conservation of Mass-Energy!!!

Solution
photon energy = energy to make particles + Ek Ephoton = Eelectron + Eantielectron + Ek hf = mc2 + mc2 + Ek Ek =(6.63x10-34Js)(8.50x1020) - 2(9.11x10-31kg)c2 = 4.00 x 10-13 J