The sum of the masses of the protons and neutrons in a given nucleus minus the mass of that nucleus is always
A)negative.
B)positive.
C)temperature dependent.
D)zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sum of the masses of the protons and neutrons in a given nucleus minus the mass of that nucleus is always positive. This difference is known as the mass defect, which is due to the binding energy holding the nucleus together according to Einstein's equation E=mc^2.

The Sum of the Masses of the Protons and Neutrons