Nuclear Binding Energy
The minimum energy required to completely disassemble an atomic nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons.
Governing formula
E_b = Δm c² = [Z m_p + (A - Z) m_n - M_nucleus] c²
SI unit
MeV (Mega-electronvolts)
In depth
Because the strong nuclear force binds nucleons together, the total mass of a bound nucleus is strictly less than the sum of its individual free constituent protons and neutrons. This mass defect Δm is converted into binding energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence E = Δm c².
Examples in the real world
The total binding energy of a Helium-4 nucleus (alpha particle) equaling approximately 28.3 MeV.