Question

What is the nuclear binding energy, and the nuclear binding energy per nucleon, of
a) 42
18 Ar (m=41.963 u) ? [359.38 MeV, 8.55 MeV/nucleon]
b) 126
54 Xe (m=125.9043u) ? [1063.9 MeV, 8.44 MeV/nucleon]

Answer 1

Mass of proton (mp​​​​​​) = 1.00727647 u

Mass of neutron (mn​​​​​​) = 1.0086654 u

a)

Binding energy = (zmp + (A-z)mn - Mp​​​​​​) ×931.5 Mev

= (18×1.00727647 + (42-18)×1.0086654 - 41.963)×931.5 Mev

= 350.19 Mev

B. E. / Nucleon = 350.19/42 = 8.34 Mev/Nucleon

b)

Binding energy = (54×1.00727647 + (126-54)×1.0086654 - 125.9043)×931.5 Mev

= 1036.33 Mev

B. E./Nucleon = 1036.33/126 = 8.22 Mev/Nucleon

Answer slightly differ because the value of mass of proton and neutron choosen by you and me are different.