Question

The mass of the fuel in a nuclear reactor decreases by an observable amount as it puts out energy. Is the same true for the coal and oxygen combined in a conventional power plant? If so, is this observable in practice for the coal and oxygen? Explain.

a) Yes, the mass decreases; observable in practice for coal and oxygen.

b) No, the mass remains constant; observable in practice for coal and oxygen.

c) Yes, the mass decreases; not observable in practice for coal and oxygen.

d) No, the mass remains constant; not observable in practice for coal and oxygen.

Answer 1

The mass of both nuclear fuel and the combination of coal and oxygen in power plants decreases as they release energy; however, while the decrease in mass is observable in nuclear reactions, it is not observable in conventional coal-burning processes due to the much smaller energy release per unit mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mass of the fuel in a nuclear reactor decreases as it releases energy, and this decrease is observable because a significant percentage of the mass is converted into energy.

This concept is a consequence of Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle (E=mc²). Similarly, the mass of coal and oxygen in a conventional power plant also decreases when they are combined to release energy, but this change is miniscule and not observable in practice. The energy involved in chemical processes, such as burning coal, is much less per unit mass compared to nuclear reactions.

Thus, while the mass does decrease, it is such a small fraction that with current technology it cannot be practically measured.