Question

57. The average nuclear reaction, including those powering nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors, represents less than how much of mass converted to energy?

Answer 1

In nuclear reactions, less than 0.1% of mass is typically converted to energy, specifically about 0.08%. Calculating mass loss using E=mc² for a nuclear power plant shows that the loss would not be easily observable even with significant fuel mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average nuclear fission reaction in processes such as nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors converts a very small portion of mass into energy. The amount of mass that is converted to energy in nuclear reactions is typically less than 0.1%. Specifically, only about 0.08% of mass is converted to energy according to the given reference information. In the context of a nuclear power plant, with a continuous output of 1000 MW and an efficiency of 35.0%, one can calculate the mass lost in one year using the formula E = mc², where E is the energy, m is the mass lost, and c is the speed of light. Given the high energy yield of nuclear fission, this mass loss would not be easily observable even with a starting mass of 104 kg of fuel.