The difference in the mass of a nucleon when outside an atomic nucleus compared to inside the nucleus depends on
A) radioactive decay.
B) isotopic abundance.
C) the distance away from the nucleus.
D) the atomic number of the nucleus.
E) gamma emission.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference in the mass of a nucleon when outside an atomic nucleus compared to inside is primarily due to the binding energy, which is related to the atomic number of the nucleus. The atomic number determines the number of protons in the nucleus, affecting the nuclear forces and thus the binding energy, which in turn influences the mass difference due to mass-energy equivalence.

The Difference in the Mass of a Nucleon When Outside