What is going on at that subatomic level where the atom’s very mass is transforming into that energy? Is it changing forms, or just releasing what is already there. And if it is changing forms, what exact part of the atom is converting to Energy and how.
One of your own sources gave the answer- "You might have been wondering, "Where does the energy come from?". The mass seems to be the same on both sides of the reaction:
235 + 1 = 2 + 92 + 142 = 236
Thus, it seems that no mass is converted into energy. However, this is not entirely correct. The mass of an atom is more than the sum of the individual masses of its protons and neutrons, which is what those numbers represent. Extra mass is a result of the binding energy that holds the protons and neutrons of the nucleus together. Thus, when the uranium atom is split, some of the energy that held it together is released as radiation in the form of heat. Because energy and mass are one and the same, the energy released is also mass released. Therefore, the total mass does decrease a tiny bit during the reaction. "
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The whole thread (41 posts)
- Physics news update -- The Casimir Effect Heats Up
- Something's not right.
- There's more to electricity than meets the eye. Photons, too. (n/t)
- Thanks SDF
- It's a stretch,
- Do the electrons of an Atom truly “circle†the atom’s nucleus? If so, aren’t they then in perpetual motion?
- Not really
- re: note that if true, we could then define Energy, Mass, and gravity all in one equation!
- The formula would look something like:
- Do the electrons of an Atom truly “circle†the atom’s nucleus? If so, aren’t they then in perpetual motion?
- I doubt gravity is in any way electrical.
- Gravity
- I think gravity is to weak a force to be THE force that holds or creates or "makes rigid" matter from energy.
- re: I think gravity is to weak a force to be THE force that holds or creates or "makes rigid" matter from energy.
- I think gravity is to weak a force to be THE force that holds or creates or "makes rigid" matter from energy.
- Not in the sense that most people think of electricity
- Gravity