Book 5

Unit 3.2
Mass-energy
relationship
Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Let’s begin Missing mass

Mass-energy equivalence

Energy released in nuclear reactions

Checkpoint 2

p.2
 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Let’s begin Missing mass

In the fission of a uranium-235 nucleus, the total
mass of the products is lighter than the reactants.
Where does the mass go? Answer
On the other hand, paths of particles
particles can be created created

by extremely energetic
 radiation.
Where does the mass
of the particles come
from? Answer

p.3
Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Mass-energy equivalence
In 1905, Albert Einstein proposed the special theory
of relativity:
Mass and energy are equivalent and
interconvertible.

This means:
 One can be converted into another.
 Mass and energy are different forms of the same
thing.

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Mass-energy equivalence
If matter is converted into energy, the amount of
energy released is given by the mass-energy
relationship:
E = mc2
E: amount of energy released (unit: J)
m: loss in mass (unit: kg)
c: speed of light (= 3.00  108 m s–1)
(c is a large number  A huge amount of energy is
released from a tiny amount of mass.)

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 3 The mass-energy relationship

Find the amount of energy released if a Hong Kong

1-dollar coin (mass = 7.10 g) were converted
completely into energy.
Energy released
= mc2
= (7.10  10–3)  (3  108)2
= 6.39  1014 J

p.6
 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

a Atomic mass unit
In atomic scale, the SI unit of mass (kg) is too large.
 More convenient to express mass in atomic
mass unit (u)

1
1u=  mass of a carbon-12 atom
12
= 1.661  10–27 kg

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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

a Atomic mass unit
Mass of some particles in u:

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

p.8
Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

b Electron-volt
Electron-volt (eV):
unit of energy in atomic scale

1 eV = energy gained by an electron when it is

accelerated across two points of a potential
difference 1 V
=e1V
= 1.60  10–19 C  1 V
= 1.60  10–19 J

p.9
Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

b Electron-volt
By the mass-energy relationship, the energy equival
ent to 1 u of mass is:
1 u = (1.6606  10–27)(2.9979  108)2 J
(1.6606  10–27)(2.9979  108)2
= 1.6022  10 –19 eV
= 9.31  108 eV
= 931 MeV

1 u = 1.661  10–27 kg = 931 MeV

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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

b Electron-volt
The conversion between mass and energy:

 1.661  10–27
kg  (3  108)2
is equivalent to

u J
 931
is equivalent to  106  (1.60  10–19)
MeV

p.11
 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 4 The conversion between mass and energy

(a) Mass of a uranium-235 atom = 235.043 923 u

How much energy is the mass equivalent to?
Give your answer in J.
Energy = (235.043 923  1.661  10–27)  (3  108)2
= 3.51  10–8 J
Alternative method:
Energy = 235.043 923  931
= 218 800 MeV
= 218 800  106  (1.60  10–19)
= 3.50  10–8 J
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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 4 The conversion between mass and energy

(b) Mass of a mobile phone = 112 g

How much energy is the mass equivalent to?
Give your answer in MeV.
112  10–3
Energy = –27 931
1.661  10
= 6.28  1028 MeV

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

c Mass difference and energy
In fission and fusion, the total mass of particles after
the reaction is usually smaller than before.
 Loss in mass  energy
in the form of electromagnetic
radiation and KE of the products
paths of particles
created
For the particles created by
 radiation, their mass comes
from the energy of  radiation.

Let’s begin
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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

c Mass difference and energy
Consider the U-235 fission.

Total mass before reaction Total mass after reaction

= 236.052 588 u = 235.859 799 u

 The loss in mass (0.192 789 u) is converted into

energy.
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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

c Mass difference and energy
Consider the U-235 fission. (Loss in mass = 0.192 789 u)
 From the mass-energy relationship,
energy released in the reaction
= mc2
= (0.192 789  1.661  10–27)  (3  108)2
= 2.88  10–11 J
For convenience, the energy released can
= 0.192 789 u be expressed in u.
The atomic mass unit can be used
as a unit of energy.
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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 5 Energy released in nuclear fusion

Consider the fusion reaction: 21 H + 31 H  42 He + 10 n

(a) Find the total mass of the particles before and
after the reaction.
Total mass before reaction
= mass of H-2 nucleus + mass of H-3 nucleus
= 2.013 553 + 3.015 500 Particle Mass / u
= 5.029 053 u Neutron 1.008 665
H-2 nucleus 2.013 553
H-3 nucleus 3.015 500
He-4 nucleus 4.001 506

p.17
 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 5 Energy released in nuclear fusion

Consider the fusion reaction: 21 H + 31 H  42 He + 10 n

(a) Find the total mass of the particles before and
after the reaction.
Total mass after reaction
= mass of He-4 nucleus + mass of neutron
= 4.001 506 + 1.008 665 Particle Mass / u
= 5.010 171 u Neutron 1.008 665
H-2 nucleus 2.013 553
H-3 nucleus 3.015 500
He-4 nucleus 4.001 506

p.18
 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 5 Energy released in nuclear fusion

Consider the fusion reaction: 21 H + 31 H  42 He + 10 n

(b) A large amount of energy is released in the
reaction.
(i) Find the energy released in u.
Energy released = 5.029 053 – 5.010 171
= 0.018 882 u

p.19
 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 5 Energy released in nuclear fusion

Consider the fusion reaction: 21 H + 31 H  42 He + 10 n

(b) A large amount of energy is released in the
reaction.
(ii) Find the energy released in J.
(1 u = 1.661  10–27 kg)
Energy released
= mc2
= 0.018 882  1.661  10–27  (3  108)2
= 2.82  10–12 J

p.20
Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Energy released in nuclear reactions

c Mass difference and energy
 Besides nuclear fission and fusion, the loss in
mass also occurs in radioactive decays.

 The lost mass is converted into KE and internal

energy of the decay products.

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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 6 Energy released in  decay

An isotope of radon, 222

86 Rn , undergoes  decay to

form polonium (Po).

(a) Write down an equation for the decay.
222
86 Rn  218
84 Po + 42 He

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 6 Energy released in  decay

222
86 Rn  218
84 Po + 42 He
(b) The energy released in the decay is 5.59 MeV.
Find the mass of polonium in u.
(Given: mass of 222
86 Rn = 222.017 577 u,

mass of 42He = 4.002 603 u, 1 u = 931 MeV)

Loss in mass m = energy released
5.59
=
931
= 0.006 004 u

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 6 Energy released in  decay

222
86 Rn  218
84 Po + 42 He
(b) The energy released in the decay is 5.59 MeV.
Find the mass of polonium in u.
(Given: mass of 222
86 Rn = 222.017 577 u,

mass of 42He = 4.002 603 u, 1 u = 931 MeV)

Mass of 218
84 Po

= 222.017 577 – (m + 4.002 603)

= 222.017 577 – (0.006 004 + 4.002 603)
= 218.008 970 u

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 6 Energy released in  decay

222
86 Rn  218
84 Po + 42 He
(c) Suppose 1 g of Rn undergoes the decay
222
86

completely.
86 Rn = ?
(i) Total number of nuclei in 1 g of 222
(Given: Avogadro’s number = 6.02  1023 mol–1,
mass of 1 mole of 86 Rn = 222 g)
222

Total number of nuclei in 1 g of

222
86 Rn
6.02  1023
=
222
= 2.71  1021

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Example 6 Energy released in  decay

222
86 Rn  218
84 Po + 42 He
(c) Suppose 1 g of Rn undergoes the decay
222
86 c
ompletely.
(ii) Total energy released = ? (in MeV)
(Energy released in the decay = 5.59 MeV,
86 Rn = 2.71  10 )
total number of nuclei in 1 g of 222 21

Total energy released = 2.71  1021  5.59

= 1.52  1022 MeV

p.26
Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Checkpoint 2
1 What is the amount of energy produced if a
substance of 1 kg completely changes into
energy?
A 3  108 J Energy = 1  (3  108)2
B 6  1016 J = 9  1016 J

C 9  1016 J
D It cannot be determined since the
substance is unknown.

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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Checkpoint 2
2 Energy released in a nuclear reaction = 5.5 MeV
Loss in mass after reaction = ?
A 9.81  10–30 kg B 8.51  10–24 kg
C 3.56  1024 kg D 3.08  1030 kg
5.5
5.5 MeV =
931
= 5.908  10–3 u
= 5.908  10–3  1.661  10–27
= 9.81  10–30 kg

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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Checkpoint 2
3 Complete the table.

Particle Mass / kg Mass / u

Carbon-12 nuclide 1.9932  10–26 12.0000

Carbon-14 nuclide 2.3260  10–26 14.0036

Uranium-234 nuclide 3.8851  10–25 233.9013

Roentgenium-272 nuclide 4.5205  10–25 272.1535

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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Checkpoint 2
4 Complete the table.
Loss in mass / Energy released / Energy released /
u J MeV
Accept 2.88  10–11
0.1931 179.78
to 2.89  10–11
Accept 0.0569 Accept 52.94
8.50  10 –12
to 0.0571 to 53.13
Accept 8.96  10–13
0.0060 5.60
to 8.99  10–13

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 Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Checkpoint 2
5 Consider the nuclear fission reaction:
235
92 U + 1
0 n  138
55 Cs + 96
37 Rb + 2 0n
1

The masses of the particles involved in the fission:

Particle Mass
0n 1.008 665 u
1

37 Rb 95.934 273 u
96

55 Cs
138
137.911 017 u
235
92 U 235.043 923 u
Find the total energy released during the reaction
in joules.
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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Checkpoint 2
5 235
92U + 10 n  138
55 Cs + 96
37 Rb + 2 0n
1

Find the total energy Particle Mass

released during the 0n
1
1.008 665 u
reaction in joules. 96
Rb 95.934 273 u
37

Total mass before reaction Cs 138

137.911 017 u
55

92 U
235
= 235.043 923 + 1.008 665 235.043 923 u
= 236.052 588 u
Total mass after reaction
= 137.911 017 + 95.934 273 + 2  1.008 665
= 235.862 620 u
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Book 5 Unit 3.2 Mass-energy relationship

Checkpoint 2
5 235
92U + 10 n  138
55 Cs + 96
37 Rb + 2 0n
1

Find the total energy Particle Mass

released during the
0n
1
1.008 665 u
reaction in joules. 96
Rb 37 95.934 273 u
Loss in mass m 55 Cs
138
137.911 017 u
92 U
235
= 236.052 588 – 235.862 620 235.043 923 u
= 0.189 968 u
Energy released
= mc2= 0.189 968  1.661  10–27  (3  108)2
= 2.84  10–11 J
- The End -
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