Question

Assertion (A): The mass of a nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the constituent nucleons.

Reason (R): Energy is absorbed when the nucleons are bound together to form a nucleus.

Options

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (А).

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (А).

• Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.

Answer 1

Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

Explanation:

The assertion is true, as, according to E = mc², some mass is transformed into binding energy when nucleons come together to form a nucleus. As a result, the mass of the nucleus is smaller than the total mass of its individual nucleons.

As energy is not absorbed during nucleus formation, the reason given is false. Instead, energy is released, which appears as binding energy.