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QPage 440: Q7: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 The Nucleus Page 440: Q7 Solution: If the nucleons of a nucleus are separated from each other, the …

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students frequently assume the extra mass appears out of nowhere when nucleons are separated, overlooking that the supplied binding energy becomes part of the system’s total invariant mass; remember that $\Delta m = E_{bind}/c^2$ and the increase is due to the added energy, not spontaneous mass creation.

If the nucleons of a nucleus are separated from each other, the total mass is increased. Where does this mass come from?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** The mass comes from the energy that was binding the nucleons together in the nucleus. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** According to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence (E = mc_), the mass of a bound nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of its individual nucleons. The difference (mass defect) corresponds to the binding energy that holds the nucleus together. When the nucleons are separated, this binding energy must be supplied from an external source, and it appears as an increase in the total rest mass of the system[citation:1].

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