As I have studied , whenever a nucleus is formed by the nucleons, some mass is “lost” (Mass Defect). This mass is released as the “Binding Energy”. Or from the other way around, Binding Energy is the amount of energy needed to break a nucleus.
But during Beta+ Decay, a proton is converted into a neutron to increase their n/p ratio and gain stability. But neutrons are heavier than protons. So, this reaction is creating mass out of nowhere. I have been answered that this mass comes from the Binding Energy of nucleus. But isn’t Binding Energy the energy that has been released due to mass defect ? Then how is it “stored” in the nucleus as the previous statement might imply ?
In: Physics
Imagine each nuclear bond being like a spring. Just the spring existing outside of its equilibrium stores energy. The same is true for nuclear bonds
Some configurations of these bonds hold more energy than others. When you get beta + decay, the combination of masses and “spring” energies is lower if you have the neutron than if you have a proton.
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