Question

When two protons and two neutrons combine to form 4He, it is found that this helium nucleus is less massive than the sum of the four original particles used to construct it. What is the significance of this?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

This signifies a defect in mass. The phenomenon is known as mass defect. Mass defect is compares the mass of an isotope to that of the nucleons in the nucleus.

The mass defect implies the energy that was given off when the protons and neutrons combine to form the new helium atom. The mass defect helps us to understand why the mass of an atom might not eventually correspond to what we obtain theoretically by calculation.