Sample Exercise: Transforming Mass Energy into Kinetic Energy The nuclear masses for the reactants and products of the reaction 2He^4 + 4Be^9 ⇒ 6C^12 + 0n¹ are provided here. Using these values and Einstein’s E = mc² relationship, calculate the energy released in this reaction.

Question

Sample Exercise: Transforming Mass Energy into Kinetic Energy
The nuclear masses for the reactants and products of the reaction

[latex]_{2}He^{4} + _{4}Be^{9} \Rightarrow _{6}C^{12} + _{0}n^{1}[/latex]

are provided here. Using these values and Einstein’s E = mc² relationship, calculate the energy released in this reaction.

E = ?

Accepted Answer

The mass difference is

13.014 789 u

[latex]\underline{-13.008 665 u}[/latex]

Δm = 0.006 124 u

[latex]1 u = 1.661 × 10^{-27} kg[/latex]

[latex]Δm = (0.006 124 u)(1.661 × 10^{-27} kg/u)[/latex]

[latex]= 1.017 × 10^{-29} kg[/latex]

E = Δmc²
[latex]= (1.017 × 10^{-29} kg)(3.0 × 10^{8} m/s)²[/latex]

[latex]= 9.15 × 10^{-13} J[/latex]

Question 19.2: Sample Exercise: Transforming Mass Energy into Kinetic Energ...