Binding Energy
Binding Energy
Binding Energy (pronunciation: /ˈbʌɪndɪŋ ˈɛnərdʒi/) is a fundamental concept in Physics and Chemistry, particularly in the subfields of Nuclear Physics and Quantum Mechanics.
Etymology
The term "Binding Energy" is derived from the English words "binding", meaning to fasten or secure, and "energy", which refers to the capacity for doing work. It was first used in the context of nuclear physics in the early 20th century.
Definition
Binding Energy is the energy required to disassemble a whole system into separate parts. A bound system typically has a lower potential energy than its constituent parts; this is what keeps the system together—the surplus energy, or equivalently, the work done on the system to assemble it, is stored in the system as its Binding Energy.
Types of Binding Energy
There are several types of Binding Energy, each associated with a different type of force:
- Nuclear Binding Energy is the energy required to disassemble an atomic nucleus into its constituent protons and neutrons.
- Electron Binding Energy is the energy required to free an electron from its atomic or molecular orbital.
- Gravitational Binding Energy is the energy required to disassemble a planet into dust spread out at infinity.
Related Terms
- Mass Defect is the difference between the mass of a composite particle and the sum of the masses of its parts. It is directly related to the Binding Energy by Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle, E=mc^2.
- Strong Force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is responsible for holding atomic nuclei together and is thus directly related to Nuclear Binding Energy.
- Weak Force is another fundamental force, responsible for certain types of radioactive decay. It can change the number of protons or neutrons in a nucleus, thereby affecting its Binding Energy.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Binding Energy
- Wikipedia's article - Binding Energy
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