Binding energyBinding Energy is the energy required to assemble separate parts into a whole. A bound system is at a lower energy level than its constituent parts. At the nuclear level binding energy is derived from the strong nuclear force and is the energy required to assemble a nucleus from neutrons and protons. At the atomic level binding energy is derived from Electromagnetic interaction and is the energy required to assemble an atom from electrons and a nucleus. In astrophysics gravitational binding energy is the energy required to assemble space debris into a planet that orbits a sun.Because a bound system is at a lower energy level its mass must be less than its unbound constituents. Nuclear binding energy can be computed from the difference in mass of a nucleus and the sum of the mass of the neutrons and protons that make up the nucleus. Once this mass difference (also called the mass defect) is known Einstein's formula (E = mc²) can then be used to compute the binding energy of any nucleus. The energy given off during either nuclear fusion or nuclear fission is the difference between the binding energies of the fuel and the fusion or fission products.
The Nuclear Binding Energy CurveThe series of light elements from Hydrogen up to Sodium have increasing binding energy per nucleon as the atomic mass increases, a region of stability (saturation) occurs from Magnesium through Xenon, and then binding energy per nucleon decreases as the atomic mass increases. Iron is the most stable and tightly bound element. Fusion produces energy by combining lighter elements into a more stable tighter bound element such as Hydrogen into Helium, and fission produces energy by splitting heavier elements such as Uranium or Plutonium into more tightly bound stable elements. See also nuclear fusion, nuclear fission, strong nuclear force
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