Mass Defect
Definition
Mass defect refers to the difference in mass between a nucleus and its individual protons and neutrons. It is caused by the conversion of some mass into binding energy during the formation of the nucleus.
Analogy
Imagine you have a cake made up of different ingredients. If you were to weigh each ingredient separately, their total weight would be slightly more than the weight of the whole cake. The missing weight represents the mass that was converted into energy during the baking process.
Related terms
Nuclear Fusion: A process where two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.
Nuclear Fission: The splitting of an atomic nucleus into two or more smaller nuclei, accompanied by the release of a significant amount of energy.
Conservation of Mass-Energy: The principle that states that mass and energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be converted from one form to another.
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