Binding Energy (Noun)
Meaning
The energy required to separate particles from a molecule or atom or nucleus; equals the mass defect.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The nucleus of an atom is held together by a binding energy that is the sum of the strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force.
- Calculating the binding energy of atomic nuclei is crucial in understanding nuclear reactions and the process of fusion.
- In the context of chemistry, binding energy can refer to both ionic and covalent bonds and is one of the key drivers for chemical reactivity.
- According to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence, the difference in mass between the separate components and the combined system is directly proportional to the binding energy.
- In particle physics, the binding energy is generally lower than the rest mass energy of the individual particles from which the system is composed.