Question

Calculate in atomic mass units the mass of 

(a) a Li⁸ atom whose nucleus has the binding energy 41.3 MeV; 

(b) a C¹⁰ nucleus whose binding energy per nucleon is equal to 6.04 MeV.

Answer 1

(a) We have for Li⁸

41.3 MeV = 0.044361 amu = 3Δ_H + 5Δ_n - Δ 

Hence Δ = 3 x 0.00783 + 5 x 0.00867 - 0.09436 

= 0.02248 amu 

(b) For C¹⁰ 

10 x 6.04 = 60.4 MeV 

= 0.06488 amu