Question

(a) Write Einstein's mass-energy equation. Give the meaning of each symbol which occurs in it.
(b) If 25 atomic mass units (u) of a radioactive material are destroyed in a nuclear reaction, how much energy is released in MeV?

Answer 1

(a) Einstein's mass–energy equation is given as follows:
$\mathrm{E}={\mathrm{mc}}^2$
E is the amount of energy produced if mass, m, is destroyed and c is the speed of light.

(b) If 25 atomic mass units (u) of a radioactive material is destroyed in a nuclear reaction, then the amount of energy released in MeV is given by:
25 $\times$ 931 = 23275 MeV (since 1 u = 931 MeV)