High School Where does the increase in mass come from in fission?

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The discussion clarifies a common misconception about nuclear fission, stating that the mass of the products is actually lower than the mass of the original nuclei. It emphasizes that energy is released during fission, which aligns with Einstein's equation E=mc^2, indicating that mass and energy are interchangeable. Participants are encouraged to calculate the masses of the reactants and products to see this relationship clearly. The example provided, involving the fission of Uranium-235, illustrates the mass balance effectively. Ultimately, the mass loss during fission is converted into energy, confirming the principles of nuclear physics.
Ciaran H
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If energy is released during nuclear fission, why is the mass of the products (the two new nuclei and fission neutrons) greater than the mass of the original nuclei? In accordance to E=mc^2, shouldn't the release of energy result in the products having a lesser mass than the original nuclei?
 
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Ciaran H said:
why is the mass of the products (the two new nuclei and fission neutrons) greater than the mass of the original nuclei?
It isn't. It's lower. Try counting masses in e.g.:
n + U235 -> 3n + Ba141 + Kr92
What do you get?
 
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