In nuclear reactions, how can huge amounts of energy be produced?
by releasing thermal energy in uranium
by destroying matter to create energy
by creating energy from the surrounding space
by converting chemical energy into nuclear energy
the mass of the products of a nuclear reaction is less than
... the mass of the starting materials
the "lost" mass was converted to energy ... e = m c^2
Huge amounts of energy can be produced in nuclear reactions through the process of nuclear fission or nuclear fusion.
In nuclear fission, the nucleus of a large atom, such as uranium or plutonium, is split into two smaller nuclei by bombarding it with a neutron. This splitting releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of thermal energy. This thermal energy can then be converted into electrical energy through various means, such as by generating steam to turn turbines and produce electricity.
Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, involves combining the nuclei of lighter atoms, such as hydrogen isotopes, to form a heavier nucleus. This process releases even larger amounts of energy. Fusion is the process that powers the Sun and other stars and holds the potential to provide vast amounts of clean and sustainable energy here on Earth. However, achieving controlled fusion reactions is still a significant scientific and engineering challenge.
To summarize, in nuclear reactions, huge amounts of energy are produced by either splitting heavy atomic nuclei (nuclear fission) or combining lighter atomic nuclei (nuclear fusion). These processes release a tremendous amount of energy in the form of thermal energy.