The nucleus of a helium-4 atom contains two protons and two neutrons.
a. (i) Define mass defect of a nucleus.
b. (ii) Given the following data, calculate the mass of the helium-4 nucleus in atomic mass units (u):
Mass of a proton =1.007276u,
Mass of a neutron =1.008665u,
Atomic mass of 4He atom =4.002603u,
Mass of an electron =0.0005486u. (Atomic mass includes the masses of two electrons.)
c. (iii) Using your result from part (ii), determine the mass defect Δm of the helium-4 nucleus in atomic mass units.
d. (iv) Hence calculate (a) the total binding energy and (b) the binding energy per nucleon of the helium-4 nucleus. Take 1u=931.5MeV/c2.