Re: [Phys-l] Mass and Energy (Binding)

["Robert Cohen" <Robert.Cohen@po-box.esu.edu>]

Maybe we can do the same for "bond energy".  That way, students may be
less inclined to think that breaking a bond always "releases" energy.

----------------------------------------------------------
Robert A. Cohen, Department of Physics, East Stroudsburg University 
570.422.3428   rcohen@po-box.esu.edu    http://www.esu.edu/~bbq 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Sandin
> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 9:57 AM
>
> Since "binding energy" is (always?) defined as a positive 
> quantity, I find it confusing. We can define it as
>
> 1) The minimum energy needed to separate the particles (which 
> makes it, in my mind, the unbinding energy) and/or
>
> 2) As you say, the minimum energy released when the system is formed.
>
> I think that the "binding energy" should actually be a 
> negative quantity, but we are not going to change tradition.
>
> Tom Sandin