Question

In the mass-defect expression \[\Delta M=[Zm_p+(A-Z)m_n]-M\], what does \(m_n\) represent?

Options

• Mass of one proton

• Mass of one neutron

• Actual mass of the nucleus

• Binding energy per nucleon

Answer 1

The symbol \(m_n\) represents the mass of one neutron. In the formula, \(A-Z\) is the number of neutrons whose masses are summed.