Mass-Defect Curves

FROM theoretical considerations, the average binding energy per nucleon can be put in the form¹ Numerical values of the parameters &epsiv₁, γ, o and r₀ have been estimated empirically by Mattauch and Flugge²: Since for a nucleus containing N neutrons and Z protons the average binding energy takes the form where m_p and m_n are the atomic weights of a proton and neutron, it is possible to calculate (W - A) from (1), (2) and (3) and to compare the results with the experimental data.