3.

2 Mass-energy relationship

Missing mass
Mass-energy equivalence
Energy released in nuclear reactions
Check-point 3

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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
Missing mass
In the fission of a U-235 nucleus, the total mass of
the products is lighter than the reactants.
Where does the mass go?
Becomes the energy released in the reaction.
On the other hand, particles paths of particles
can be created by extremely created

energetic  radiation.
Where does the mass of
the particles come from?
From the energy of the  radiation.
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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
1 Mass-energy equivalence
In 1905, Albert Einstein proposed the
theory of special relativity:

‘Mass and energy are equivalent.’

This means:
 mass and energy are different forms of
the same thing
 mass can be converted into energy and
vice versa
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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
1 Mass-energy equivalence
The amount of energy released is given by the
mass-energy relationship:

E = mc 2

E : increase in energy (unit: J)

m : decrease in mass (unit: kg)
c : the speed of light, i.e. 3  108 m s–1
 huge amount of energy from a tiny mass
Example 4 The mass-energy relationship
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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
2 Energy released in nuclear reactions
a Atomic mass unit
atomic mass unit (u)
 small unit of mass
 Suitable for measuring mass in atomic scale
1
1u=  mass of a carbon-12 atom
12
= 1.66  10–27 kg

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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
a Atomic mass unit

Mass of some particles in atomic mass unit:

Particle Mass / u
Proton 1.007 276
Neutron 1.008 665
Electron 0.000 549
Hydrogen-2 (deuteron) nucleus 2.013 553
Hydrogen-3 (tritium) nucleus 3.015 500
Helium-4 nucleus 4.001 506

Example 5 Atomic mass unit and kilogram

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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
2 Energy released in nuclear reactions
b Mass difference and energy
In nuclear fission and fusion,
total mass of the particles after the reaction is
usually smaller than before.
Loss in mass  energy
Consider the nuclear fission:

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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
b Mass difference and energy
Total mass before the reaction
= 236.052 588 u
Total mass after the reaction
= 235.859 799 u
Loss in mass (0.192 789 u) is converted into energy.
∴ Energy released in the reaction
= mc 2 = (0.192 789  1.66  10–27)  (3  108)2
= 2.88  10–11 J (or 0.192 789 u)
The atomic mass unit can be used as a unit of energy.
Example 6 The energy released in nuclear fusion
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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
b Mass difference and energy

Example 7 Exploring the moon

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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
b Mass difference and energy

Example 8 Nuclear power

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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
Check-point 3 – Q1

What is the amount of energy produced

if 1 kg of a certain element completely
changes into energy?

A 3  108 J
B 6  1016 J
C 9  1016 J
D It cannot be determined since the type
of element is unknown.
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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
Check-point 3 – Q2
Particle Mass / kg Mass / u
Carbon-12 nuclide 1.99  10–26 12.0000

Carbon-13 nuclide 2.1586  10–26 13.0

Carbon-14 nuclide 2.32  10–26 14.0032

Uranium-234 nuclide 3.8851  10–25 234

Roentgenium-272
4.52  10–25 272.1535
nuclide
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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
Check-point 3 – Q3

A nuclear fission:
235 1 138 96 1
92 U + 0 n  55 Cs + 37 Rb + 2 0n
Mass of the particles involved in the fission:
Particle Mass
1
0 n 1.008 665 u
96
37 Rb 95.934 273 u
138
55 Cs 137.911 017 u
235
92 U 235.043 923 u
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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
Check-point 3 – Q3

Find the total energy

Particle Mass

1.008 665 u
released during the 95.934 273 u
reaction in joule. 137.911 017 u

Total mass before reaction 235.043 923 u

= 235.043 923 + 1.008 665 = 236.052 588 u

Total mass after reaction
= 137.911 017 + 95.934 273 + 2  1.008 665
= 235.862 620 u
Energy released = mc 2 = 2.84  10–11 J P.28
Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship
 The End

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Book 5 Section 3.2 Mass-energy relationship