Practice question

**Binding energy calculation** from mass defect, for nucleus mass number 28 BE 224 MeV BE/A=8 MeV, A=18 BE 144 MeV BE/A=8 MeV, BE/A indicates stability, fusion of light nuclei and fission of heavy release energy because product has higher BE/A, difference released. In light nuclei (A < 30), the binding energy per nucleon is lower. When they fuse into a heavier nucleus, the binding energy per nucleon increases, releasing energy as the final system is more tightly bound. Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV,