Question

Explain how a bound system can have less mass than its components. Why is this not observed classically, say for a building made of bricks?

a) Binding energy contributes to the mass of the system; classical binding is negligible.

b) Binding energy reduces the mass of the system; classical binding is significant.

c) Classical systems are not bound; binding energy does not apply.

d) Classical systems exhibit negative binding energy; quantum systems do not.

Answer 1

A bound system can have less mass than its components due to the conversion of mass into binding energy. This phenomenon is not observed in classical systems like a building made of bricks due to the negligible binding energy in such systems.

Step-by-step explanation:

A bound system can have less mass than its components due to the energy-mass equivalence (E = mc²) and the concept of binding energy. Binding energy is the energy required to completely disassemble a bound system into its separate components. When the components are bound together, some of their mass is converted into binding energy, resulting in a decrease in the total mass of the system.

However, this phenomenon is not observed classically, such as in a building made of bricks, because the binding energy in classical systems is negligible compared to the gravitational or electrical interactions between the components. In the case of a building made of bricks, the gravitational force between the bricks is relatively small, and the electrical interactions between the bonding electrons are also relatively small, resulting in a negligible mass defect.