the sum of the masses of individual nuclear particles is less than their masses when combined.

true or false?

Nuclear particles stay together in the nucleus because some of the mass is convert to energy that binds them together. That is called the binding energy.

is it false?

pink/xxx -- please keep the same name for your posts.

If you think converting mass to energy means the particles do not weigh less when combined.

True.

To understand why the sum of the masses of individual nuclear particles is less than their masses when combined, we need to consider Einstein's theory of relativity and the concept of mass-energy equivalence.

According to Einstein's equation E = mc², energy (E) and mass (m) are interchangeable. This equation shows that mass can be converted into energy, and vice versa.

In the nucleus of an atom, protons and neutrons are held together by the strong nuclear force. The strong nuclear force is a powerful force that overcomes the electromagnetic repulsion between protons. However, it requires energy to hold the nucleus together.

During nuclear fusion or fission, the nucleus undergoes a change in its structure, resulting in the release or absorption of energy. This process involves converting a small fraction of the mass of the nucleus into energy, according to Einstein's equation.

Therefore, when individual nuclear particles combine to form a nucleus, some of their mass is converted into the binding energy that holds the nucleus together. As a result, the total mass of the combined nucleus is slightly less than the sum of the masses of its individual particles.

This phenomenon is known as mass defect or mass deficiency. The mass defect represents the difference in mass between the combined nucleus and its constituent particles. The released energy during nuclear processes, such as fusion in the Sun or nuclear reactions in power plants, comes from this mass defect.

In summary, the sum of the masses of individual nuclear particles is less than their masses when combined due to the conversion of a small fraction of mass into binding energy during nuclear processes.