IB Physics SL E.3.2 Binding Energy and Mass Defect

Practise calculating nuclear mass defect from separate nucleons and measured nuclear mass, then converting it to binding energy with c² or the atomic-mass-unit conversion.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
—
Level
SL

Exam points

  • subtract bound nuclear mass from the total mass of its separate protons and neutrons
  • account consistently for electron masses when atomic rather than nuclear masses are supplied
  • convert Δm to binding energy with E = Δmc² or 931.5 MeV per atomic mass unit

E.3.2—Binding energy and mass defect question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about renewable energy. Part 2 is about nuclear energy and radioactivity.

A small coastal community decides to use a wind farm consisting of five identical wind turbines to generate part of its energy. At the proposed site, the average wind speed is 8.5 m s−18.5 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-1} and the density of air is 1.3 kg m−31.3 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3}. The maximum power required from the wind farm is 0.75 MW . Each turbine has an efficiency of 30 %.

State what is meant by the binding energy of a nucleus.

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