The curve of binding energy. This graph shows that 7 MeV of energy is released per hydrogen atom when 4 hydrogen atoms are converted to one helium atom. 7 MeV of energy release is equivalent to conversion of 0.007 of the mass into energy. I.e., the mass of one helium atom is less than the mass of four hydrogen atoms by about 7 parts in one thousand.

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Last modified October 12, 2002
Copyright by Richard McCray