Asked by qp
How are energy and mass connected during the formation of an atom?
Energy is absorbed, so the mass is increased.
Energy is released, so the mass is increased.
Energy is absorbed, so the mass is reduced.
Energy is released, so the mass is reduced.
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Energy is released, so the mass is reduced.
When particles bind into an atom they lose binding energy, which is emitted (e.g. as photons). By mass–energy equivalence (E = mc^2) the bound atom's mass is smaller than the sum of the separate constituents by an amount Δm = E_binding/c^2 (the mass defect).
When particles bind into an atom they lose binding energy, which is emitted (e.g. as photons). By mass–energy equivalence (E = mc^2) the bound atom's mass is smaller than the sum of the separate constituents by an amount Δm = E_binding/c^2 (the mass defect).
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