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Binding energy
A '''binding energy''' is the net negative [[potential energy]] (''i.e.'', the net energy debt) pulling a bound system together.<ref>Young, Hugh D.; Freedman, ‎Roger A. [https://www.google.co.uk/search?newwindow=1&tbm=bks&q=%22has+a+net+negative+potential+energy%22 University Physics]. Addison-Wesley, 2000, p. 736. "A crystal of table salt is made of ions of sodium (Na<sup>+</sup>) and chlorine (Cl<sup>−</sup>) and (contracted; show full)
A bound system has a more negative [[potential energy]] than the sum of its parts; this is what pulls the system together in accordance with the [[minimum total potential energy principle]]. From the law of [[conservation of energy]], it follows that positive energy is borrowed into actuality upon the creation of a bound (''i.e.'', energetically indebted) state. This positive actual energy tends to unbind the system and must be radiated away for the system to become bound by the 
net negative potential energy.

Because of the [[mass–energy equivalence]], the negative potential energy has a negative [[Mass#Inertial mass|inertial mass]] (''i.e.'', a negative resistance to acceleration), so that it self-accelerates to an infinite speed,<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3fAWAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Unfortunately+a+negative+mass,++with+negative+total+energy,+has+a+negative+inertia+so+that+it+accelerates+itself+and+the+kinetic+energy+would+tend+to+minus+infinity%22&(contracted; show full)
==External links==
*[http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/nucbin.html Nuclear Binding Energy]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binding Energy}}
[[Category:Basic physics ideas]]
[[Category:Cosmology]]
[[Category:Energy]]