Physics

Alvarez

1 January, 12:18

A student writes the following statements about the relationship between mass defect and nuclear binding energy.

1. When an isotope's protons and neutrons come together to form a nuclide, a small amount of mass is converted to energy

. 2. An equivalent amount of energy must be added to the nuclide to split apart its protons and neutrons.

3. Statement 1 describes the isotope's nuclear binding energy, and statement 2 describes the isotope's mass defect.

Which statement is correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. 1 and 2 only

D. 1, 2, and 3