During early research in nuclear energy, why were scientists surprised that the products from splitting a uranium nucleus had less mass than the reactants? They expected that the large release of energy would cause an increase in mass. Up to that time, only chemical changes were known to form less mass than they started with. All known changes always started and ended with the same amount of mass. Other known nuclear changes resulted in the same mass of products as reactants.

During early research in nuclear energy, why were scientists surprised that the products from splitting a uranium nucleus had less mass than the reactants? They expected that the large release of energy would cause an increase in mass. Up to that time, only chemical changes were known to form less mass than they started with. All known changes always started and ended with the same amount of mass. Other known nuclear changes resulted in the same mass of products as reactants.

College Physics

11th Edition

ISBN:9781305952300

Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille

Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille

Chapter30: Nuclear Energy And Elementary Particles

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 45AP

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Nuclear interactions

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During early research in nuclear energy, why were scientists surprised that the products from splitting a uranium
nucleus had less mass than the reactants?
They expected that the large release of energy would cause an increase in mass.
Up to that time, only chemical changes were known to form less mass than they started with.
All known changes always started and ended with the same amount of mass.
Other known nuclear changes resulted in the same mass of products as reactants.
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