Question

The mass of a nucleus in ground state is always less than the total mass of its constituents - neutrons and protons. Explain

Answer 1

This is because of m=E÷c^2. Mass is relative to energy. When constituents of nucleus are far from each other. There potential energy is zero. In nucleus, they are very close to each other so there potential energy decrease from zero to negative because as height (Distance) between two objects decreases there potential energy also decreases. So there potential energy becomes negative and there total energy decreased from their actual amount. when you will calculate their mass using m=E÷c^2 their mass will be decreased due to decrease in energy.