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CAIE A-Level Physics A2 23.1 Mass Defect and Nuclear Binding Energy Questions

Practise calculating mass defect and nuclear energy, completing equations, interpreting binding-energy curves and comparing fission, fusion and decay.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Physics 9702
Level
A2

Exam points

  • calculate mass-energy equivalence using E = mc� and explain mass changes in nuclear reactions
  • complete and interpret nuclear equations by conserving nucleon and proton numbers
  • define and calculate mass defect and binding energy
  • interpret the binding-energy-per-nucleon curve to compare nuclei and distinguish fusion from fission
  • calculate energy released from mass change or binding-energy change and convert between joules and electronvolts

Covered syllabus points

23.1.1—The equivalence between energy and mass as represented by E = mc 2 and23.1.2—Simple nuclear reactions by nuclear equations of the form NH eO H7 14 2 4 823.1.3—The terms mass defect and binding energy23.1.4—The variation of binding energy per nucleon with nucleon number23.1.5—What is meant by nuclear fusion and nuclear fission23.1.6—The relevance of binding energy per nucleon to nuclear reactions23.1.7—The energy released in nuclear reactions using E = c 2∆m

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