If the mass defect of a nucleus is 0.15 u, then the energy required to separate it into its constituents is
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → 139.72 MeV
The energy needed to separate a nucleus into its nucleons is its binding energy, which equals the mass defect converted to energy with 1 u = 931.5 MeV/c2.
\( \displaystyle E_b = \Delta m \times 931.5\,\mathrm{MeV\,u^{-1}} \)
\( \displaystyle E_b = 0.15\,\mathrm{u} \times 931.5\,\mathrm{MeV\,u^{-1}} \)
\( E_b \approx 139.72\,\mathrm{MeV} \)