Question

What is the nuclear binding energy per nucleon (in J/nucleon) of 15C? The mass of 15C is 15.010599 amu.

Answer 1

Here the element is C
atomic number=6
atomic mass=15.010599 amu.

Then 6 protons and 9 neutrons
6 * 1.008142 amu = 6.048852 amu (protons)
plus
9 * 1.008982 amu = 9.080838 amu (neutrons)
total mass of nucleon means protons + neutrons=

= 6.048852 amu+9.080838 amu

=15.12969amu

Binding energy which comes from the difference of these mass as follows:
The difference is 15.12969amu -15.010599 = 0.119091 amu

Now convert the amu to Energy in Joules, we use Einsteins famous equation as follows:

E = mc^2
first amu must be converted to kilograms first
1 amu = 1.657*10^-27 kg

0.119091 amu = 1.978*10^-28 kg

E = (1.978*10^-28 kg) * (3.00*10^8 m/s) ^2
E = 1.17802*10^-11 Joules
Binding energy per nucleon (in J/nucleon) of 15C = 1.17802*10^-11 Joules /15

=7.8535 *10^-13 J/nucleon