Suppose a nucleus with mass number $\displaystyle \mathrm{A}=240$ and $\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{B} . \mathrm{E} .}{\mathrm{A}}=7.6 \mathrm{MeV}$, breaks into two nuclei, each of mass number $\displaystyle \mathrm{A}=120$ with $\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{B} . \mathrm{E} .}{\mathrm{A}}=8.5 \mathrm{MeV}$. Calculate the energy released in the process.

$\displaystyle \mathrm{E}_{\text {bn }}$ for $\displaystyle (\mathrm{A}=240)$ Nucleus $\displaystyle =7.6 \mathrm{MeV}$ $\displaystyle \mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{bn}}$ for two fragments (A=$\displaystyle 120$) \[=8.5 \mathrm{MeV} \] Gain in $\displaystyle \mathrm{E}_{\text {bn }}=8.5-7.6$ \[=0.9 \mathrm{MeV} \] Total gain in binding energy $\displaystyle =240 \times 0.9$ \[=216 \mathrm{MeV} \] Alternatively: Binding energy for $\displaystyle (\mathrm{A}=240)$ nucleus is $\displaystyle =240 \times 7.6 \mathrm{MeV}$ Binding energy for fragments is $\displaystyle =2 \times 120 \times 8.5$ \[=240 \times 8.5 \mathrm{MeV} \] Energy released $\displaystyle =240 \times 8.5-240 \times 7.6$ \[=240 \times(8.5-7.6) \] $\displaystyle =240 \times 0.9$ \[=216 \mathrm{MeV} \]