The binding energy of helium 4 He is
2
[atomic mass of proton = 1.00783U,
atomic mass of neutron = 1.00867U]
how do you calculate the mass of the atom?
To calculate the mass of an atom, you need to consider the number of protons and neutrons it contains, along with their respective masses. Here's how you can calculate the mass of helium-4 (4He) using the atomic masses of protons and neutrons:
1. Determine the number of protons and neutrons in helium-4:
- Helium-4 (4He) consists of 2 protons (which is the atomic number of helium) and 2 neutrons.
2. Find the atomic mass of protons and neutrons:
- The atomic mass of a proton is approximately 1.00783 unified atomic mass units (u).
- The atomic mass of a neutron is approximately 1.00867 u.
3. Calculate the total mass of protons and neutrons in helium-4:
- Multiply the atomic mass of a proton by the number of protons: 1.00783 u * 2 = 2.01566 u
- Multiply the atomic mass of a neutron by the number of neutrons: 1.00867 u * 2 = 2.01734 u
4. Add the masses of protons and neutrons to get the total mass:
- Add the total mass of protons (2.01566 u) and neutrons (2.01734 u):
2.01566 u + 2.01734 u = 4.032 u
Hence, the calculated mass of helium-4 (4He) is approximately 4.032 unified atomic mass units (u).