During the fusion process, how is mass converted into energy?

Question

During the fusion process, how is mass converted into energy?

1 Answer

Impact of this question

15110 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-04-15T19:28:22

$E = m c^{2}$ $E = mc^2$

Explanation:

This is calculated using the famous equation of Einstein,

$E = m c^{2}$ $E = m c^2$

In Fusion reaction like the ones taking place in the core of a Star, there is enough pressure to fuse hydrogen nuclei to form one helium nucleus.

So, 4 hydrogen nuclei are fused together to form one Helium nucleus. But, where does the energy come from that keeps the Sun from collapsing?.

When 4 Hydrogen nuclei are merged together they show a certain discrepancy in the mass when a Helium atom is formed, i.e the mass of 4 Hydrogen atoms before Fusion is higher than the mass of the Helium atom after the reaction this mass defect is converted into energy by $E = m c^{2}$ $E = mc^2$ .

$mass of a hydrogen atom = 1.00794 u$ $"mass of a hydrogen atom " = " 1.00794 u"$

$mass of one helium atom = 4.002602 u$ $"mass of one helium atom " = " 4.002602 u"$

Where $u = 1.6605 \times 10^{- 27} kg$ $u = 1.6605 xx 10^(-27)"kg"$ .

The mass defect, $Deltam$ , will be

$Delta m = 4 xx m_H - m_(He)$

$= 4 xx "1.00794 u" - "4.002602 u"$

$= "0.029158 u "$ or $" "4.8416859 * 10^(-29)"kg"$

In the equation $E = mc^2$ , $c$ is the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately equal to $3 * 10^8"m s"^(-1)$ .

This means that you have

$E = 4.8416859 * 10^(-29)"kg" * (3 * 10^8)^2"m"^2"s"^(-2)$

$E = 4.35751731 * 10^(-12)" J per reaction"$

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

During the fusion process, how is mass converted into energy?

1 Answer

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question