(A Level) Mass defect and nuclear binding energy

Learning objectives

Use E = mc² to relate mass and energy, converting between kilograms, unified atomic mass units, joules and MeV.

Write and balance nuclear equations for transmutation, fission and fusion reactions.

Define mass defect and binding energy, and calculate the binding energy of a nucleus from the masses of the nucleus and its separate nucleons.

Sketch how binding energy per nucleon varies with nucleon number, and use the graph to explain why fusion of light nuclei and fission of heavy nuclei both release energy.

Calculate the energy released by a fission, fusion or decay process from the total mass lost, using E = c²Δm, and express it in MeV.