Binding Energy

• Binding energy of a nucleus is defined as the energy required to break a nucleus into its constituents.
• It increases with the number of nucleons in a nucleus.
• It is often plotted in per nucleon basis as shown below

• We shall understand this figure in more detail in a later lecture.
• Higher the binding energy per nucleon, more stable is the nuclei.
• Iron is the most stable nuclei.
• We also note that as light elements fuse or heavy elements undergo fission, the products are more stable.