Nuclear fusion: How does the mass of the products of a nuclear fusion reaction compare to the mass of the original elements?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a nuclear fusion reaction, the mass of the products is less than the mass of the original elements because a small amount of mass is converted into energy according to Einstein's famous equation E=mc². This energy is released in the form of gamma rays, which carries away some of the original mass. This phenomenon is known as mass-energy equivalence. Therefore, the total mass of the products is less than the total mass of the original elements.

Nuclear Fusion: How Does the Mass of the Products of a Nuclear