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I understand in Fusion of heavy elements (i.e.- U-235) and fission of light elemetns (hydrogen) will lead to the release of energy due to the principle of mass defect. Basically, both are exothermic processes that release energy.
1.) I am confused about two things. For this mass defect which converts to energy in einsteins E=mc2, does this energy get released to the environment (as would be obvious behind the principle of nuclear reactors and atom bombs), OR does this energy go into the potential energy of the the resulting products in order to hold the protons together in the nucleus. For example, in the sun, when 4H atoms combine to form He-4, does this mass defect convert into energy to be stored in the nucleus in order to hold the protons together or is this released (which now seems less obvious because after all, there requires energy to hold the nucleus together).
2.) If the answer to #1 is that the mass defect converts into the potential energy of the resulting nucleus or nuclei (in either fusion or fission), does this also relate to the concept of the "strong nuclear force" ?
ULTIMATELY, what im trying to ask in simple terms is whether mass defect, potential energy of the nucleus, and strong nuclear force interchangeable terms?
THANKS.
1.) I am confused about two things. For this mass defect which converts to energy in einsteins E=mc2, does this energy get released to the environment (as would be obvious behind the principle of nuclear reactors and atom bombs), OR does this energy go into the potential energy of the the resulting products in order to hold the protons together in the nucleus. For example, in the sun, when 4H atoms combine to form He-4, does this mass defect convert into energy to be stored in the nucleus in order to hold the protons together or is this released (which now seems less obvious because after all, there requires energy to hold the nucleus together).
2.) If the answer to #1 is that the mass defect converts into the potential energy of the resulting nucleus or nuclei (in either fusion or fission), does this also relate to the concept of the "strong nuclear force" ?
ULTIMATELY, what im trying to ask in simple terms is whether mass defect, potential energy of the nucleus, and strong nuclear force interchangeable terms?
THANKS.