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Do protons and neutrons in nucleus have the same mass as when they are free, or is their mass larger/smaller due to mass defect?
I have a question about protons and neutrons in a nucleus. Do they have the same mass as when they are free, or is their mass larger/smaller due to mass defect?
Protons and neutrons in a nucleus actually have a slightly smaller mass than when they are free. This is due to a phenomenon called mass defect, which is caused by the binding energy required to hold the nucleus together.