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10.6.1 Nuclear Energy

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  1. In a radioactive decay, one element changes into another in a process called transmutation.
  2. The mass of the daughter particles are less than that of the parent particle. This difference in mass is called mass defect or mass loss.
  3. Mass defect is the missing mass in a nuclear reaction and the missing mass will turn into thermal energy and kinetic energy of the product particles.
  4. The mass lost is converted into energy.
  5. Einstein's formula can be used to calculate the amount of nuclear energy released from the defect of the mass in a radioactive decay or nuclear reaction.


    Einstein Formula

    E = mc²

    where 
    m = mass change, in kg
    c = speed of light, in m s-1
    E = energy changed, in J