The carbon in our bodies was formed in nuclear reactions in long-dead stars. How much energy was released when the right number of ⁴He nuclei combined to make 12C? The mass of 4He is 3728.40 MeV/C2 and the mass of 12C is 11,177.93 MeV/C2.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy released is calculated using the mass defect and Einstein's equation E=mc². The mass defect is the difference between the mass of the reactants (3 * 3728.40 MeV/C² for 3 helium nuclei) and the product (12C nucleus). The mass defect is 3 * 3728.40 - 11177.93 = 7.27 MeV, which is the energy released.

The Carbon in Our Bodies Was Formed in Nuclear Reactions