Which statement describes why energy is released in a nuclear fusion reaction based on mass-energy equivalence?

For large nuclei, the mass of the original nucleus is greater than the mass of the products. For large nuclei, the mass of the original nucleus is less than the mass of the products. For small nuclei, the binding energy of the lighter nuclei is greater than the binding energy of the heavier nucleus. For small nuclei, the binding energy of the lighter nuclei is less than the binding energy of the heavier nucleus.

Question

Which statement describes why energy is released in a nuclear fusion reaction based on mass-energy equivalence?

For large nuclei, the mass of the original nucleus is greater than the mass of the products. For large nuclei, the mass of the original nucleus is less than the mass of the products. For small nuclei, the binding energy of the lighter nuclei is greater than the binding energy of the heavier nucleus. For small nuclei, the binding energy of the lighter nuclei is less than the binding energy of the heavier nucleus.

Brandon · Answer

Answer:

Option (c) is the correct answer.

The Explanation:

When two or more small nuclei combine together to form a larger nuclei then this process is known as a nuclear reaction. The smaller an atom, the more energy it requires to release an electron. This energy is known as binding energy. Thus, when two small nuclei fuse together then there will be more binding energy as compared to when two large nuclei fuse together. For example, the fusion of two hydrogen atoms releases more energy than one helium atom, and upon binding, excess energy is released into space. Hence, we can conclude that energy is released in a nuclear fusion reaction based on mass-energy equivalence because, for small nuclei, the binding energy of the lighter nuclei is greater than the binding energy of the heavier nucleus.

Final Answer:

Energy is released in a nuclear fusion reaction because the mass of the original nucleus is greater than the mass of the products. This is due to mass-energy equivalence and the conversion of mass into energy.

The Explanation:

In nuclear fusion reactions, energy is released because the mass of the original nucleus is greater than the mass of the products. This is based on the concept of mass-energy equivalence, as described by Einstein's equation E=mcÂ². The missing mass in the reaction is converted into energy, and the products of the fusion reaction have a greater binding energy per nucleon (BE/A). Therefore, the larger nucleus formed in the fusion reaction has a greater binding energy and less mass per nucleon, resulting in the release of energy.

Understanding Energy Release in Nuclear Fusion Reactions

The Explanation:

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