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| '''Nuclear potential energy''' is the ] of the ] inside an ]. The nuclear particles are bound together by the ]. ]s provide the potential energy for certain kinds of radioactive decay, such as ]. | '''Nuclear potential energy''' is the ] of the ] inside an ]. The nuclear particles are bound together by the ]. ]s provide the potential energy for certain kinds of radioactive decay, such as ]. | ||
| Nuclear particles like ]s and ]s are not destroyed in ] and ] processes, but collections of them have less mass than if they were individually free, and this mass difference is liberated as heat and radiation in nuclear reactions (the heat and radiation have the missing mass, but it often escapes from the system, where it is not measured). The energy from the ] is an example of this form of energy conversion. In the Sun, the process of hydrogen fusion converts about 4 million tonnes of solar matter per second into ], which is radiated into space. Some people say that nuclear energy is very dangerous. | Nuclear particles like ]s and ]s are not destroyed in ] and ] processes, but collections of them have less mass than if they were individually free, and this mass difference is liberated as heat and radiation in nuclear reactions (the heat and radiation have the missing mass, but it often escapes from the system, where it is not measured). The energy from the ] is an example of this form of energy conversion. In the Sun, the process of hydrogen fusion converts about 4 million tonnes of solar matter per second into ], which is radiated into space. Some people say that nuclear energy is very dangerous. Is it true? Yes. | ||
Revision as of 09:59, 30 March 2011
- See also Nuclear power
Nuclear potential energy is the potential energy of the particles inside an atomic nucleus. The nuclear particles are bound together by the strong nuclear force. Weak nuclear forces provide the potential energy for certain kinds of radioactive decay, such as beta decay.
Nuclear particles like protons and neutrons are not destroyed in fission and fusion processes, but collections of them have less mass than if they were individually free, and this mass difference is liberated as heat and radiation in nuclear reactions (the heat and radiation have the missing mass, but it often escapes from the system, where it is not measured). The energy from the Sun is an example of this form of energy conversion. In the Sun, the process of hydrogen fusion converts about 4 million tonnes of solar matter per second into electromagnetic energy, which is radiated into space. Some people say that nuclear energy is very dangerous. Is it true? Yes.
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