Question

If $M_{O}$ is the mass of an oxygen isotope $\_{8}^{}O_{}^{17}$ , $M_{P}$ and $M_{N}$ are the masses of a proton and a neutron respectively, the nuclear binding energy of the isotope is

• A. $\left(\right.M_{O}-17M_{N}\left.\right)c^{2}$
• B. $\left(\right.M_{O}-8M_{P}\left.\right)c^{2}$
• C. $\left(\right.8M_{P}+9M_{N}-M_{O}\left.\right)c^{2}$
• D. $M_{O}c^{2}$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Binding energy = [ZM_P + (A - Z) M_N - M_O] c²
= [8M_P + (17 - 8) M_N - M_O]c² = (8 M_P + 9M_N - M_O) c²