Question

Calculate binding energy of oxygen nucleus \[\ce{(^16_8O)}\] from the data given below:

Mass of a proton = 1.007825 u

Mass of a neutron = 1.008665 u

Mass of \[\ce{(^16_8O)}\] = 15.994915 u

Answer 1

Given: Mass of a proton (m_p) = 1.007825 u

Mass of a neutron (m_n) = 1.008665 u

Mass of \[\ce{(^16_8O)}\] (m_o) = 15.994915 u

The binding energy of \[\ce{^16_8O}\] = ?

Δm = 8m_p + 8m_n − m_o

= (8 × 1.007825 + 8 × 1.008665 − 15.994915)u

= (8.0626 + 8.06932 − 15.004915)u

= (16.13192 − 15.004915)u

= 0.137005 u

= 0.137005 × 931.5 MeV    ...[∵ 1 u = 931.5 MeV]

= 127.62 × 1.6 × 10⁻¹³ J    ...[∵ 1 MeV = 1.6 × 10⁻¹³ J]

= 2.042 × 10⁻¹¹ J