Edexcel A-Level Physics Nuclear Binding Energy

Practise Edexcel A-Level Physics nuclear binding energy by calculating mass defects, released energy and binding energy per nucleon.

Exam points

calculate nuclear energy release from mass defect using E = c²Δm and unit conversions
find binding energy per nucleon from proton, neutron and nuclear mass data
interpret binding-energy-per-nucleon values to compare nuclear stability or reaction energy

[Maximum number: 3]

A nucleus of polonium-210 decays to lead-206 by emitting an alpha particle. The masses of the particles are shown in the table.

Table for Question 5.4.133 - Nuclear binding energy question 1 — Edexcel A-Level Physics A2

Show that the energy released in the decay is about $9 \times 10^{-13} \mathrm{~J}$ .

The mass defect is $\Delta m=(3.48572-3.41918-0.0664437)\times10^{-25}=9.63\times10^{-30}\,\mathrm{kg}$ . Hence $\Delta E=c^2\Delta m=(3.00\times10^8)^2(9.63\times10^{-30})=8.67\times10^{-13}\,\mathrm J,$ about $9\times10^{-13}\,\mathrm J$ .

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5.4.133 - Nuclear binding energy question 1