What Is Mass Defect Example

The actual mass of the atomic nucleus is always less than the mass of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus. When a nucleus is formed, energy is released. This missing mass is known as the ‘mass defect’ and it accounts for the energy released. …

Why does mass defect exist?

Mass defect is caused due to nuclear binding energy. This energy is solely responsible for keeping the nucleuons together. This is done through an exchange of virtual pions. Their mass is determined using the uncertainty principle.

How is mass defect determined?

To calculate the mass defect: add up the masses of each proton and of each neutron that make up the nucleus, subtract the actual mass of the nucleus from the combined mass of the components to obtain the mass defect.