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Nuclear and particle physics
Quick questions on Mass-energy, binding energy, fission and fusion - Edexcel A-Level Physics
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is mass-energy equivalence?Show answer
Because is enormous, a tiny mass change releases a huge energy. This is why nuclear processes release millions of times more energy per kilogram than chemical reactions, which involve only electron rearrangement and negligible mass change.
What is the binding energy per nucleon curve?Show answer
This single curve explains where nuclear energy comes from. Any process that moves nucleons to a position higher on the curve (greater binding energy per nucleon) releases energy.
What is q1?Show answer
Define the binding energy of a nucleus. [1 mark]
What is q2?Show answer
A reaction loses kg of mass. Find the energy released. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain why fusion releases more energy per nucleon than fission. [2 marks]
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