<P> Nuclear binding energy is the minimum energy that would be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts . These component parts are neutrons and protons , which are collectively called nucleons . The binding energy is always a positive number , as we need to spend energy in moving the nucleons away from each other ( attracted by nuclear force ) . The mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the sum of the individual masses of the free constituent protons and neutrons ( according to Einstein 's equation E = mc ) and this ' missing mass ' is known as the mass defect , and represents the energy that was released when the nucleus was formed . </P>
<P> Nuclear binding energy is the minimum energy that would be required to disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts . These component parts are neutrons and protons , which are collectively called nucleons . The binding energy is always a positive number , as we need to spend energy in moving the nucleons away from each other ( attracted by nuclear force ) . The mass of an atomic nucleus is less than the sum of the individual masses of the free constituent protons and neutrons ( according to Einstein 's equation E = mc ) and this ' missing mass ' is known as the mass defect , and represents the energy that was released when the nucleus was formed . </P>
the binding energy of a nucleus is the amount of energy needed to
the binding energy of a nucleus is the amount of energy needed to
disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts
disassemble the nucleus of an atom into its component parts