Focus on Physics: How E = mc2 Helps Us Understand Nuclear Fission and Fusion

by: Paul G. Hewitt

This column helps teachers build an understanding of physical principles. Nuclear physics has an undeserved reputation for being tough for students. This article may reduce this “toughness” by showing how Einstein’s familiar equation E = mc2 relates to the reductions in mass and enormous releases of energy that occur in the processes of nuclear fission and fusion.

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Type Journal ArticlePub Date 12/1/2016Stock # tst16_083_09_11Volume 083Issue 09

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