Chapter 40, Problem 40A

To determine

Whether the initial uranium atom or sum of its products has more mass in the nuclear fission reaction.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The mass of a nucleus of the atom gets lost during the nuclear fission reaction. The lost mass gets changes into energy in reaction.

The mass of initial uranium atom is more than the mass of the sum of its product in nuclear fission reaction because some mass of the nucleus of initial uranium atom converts into energy during nuclear fission reaction.

Conclusion:

Thus, the initial uranium atom has more mass than sum of its product in the nuclear fission reaction.