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Name: JOE
Status: student
Age: 12
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999
Question:
Do you know any scientific laws which would effect nuclear energy?

Replies:
Joe,

The most important law governing nuclear processes is Einstein's famous E=mc^2. What this equation means is that energy (E) and mass (m) are actually the same "stuff." When a nuclear reaction takes place in a nuclear power plant, the process that occurs is actually turning an incredibly small part of the mass of the uranium nuclei into an incredibly large amount of energy. The reason we get such a great amount of energy from such a small mass is that c^2 factor on the right. c represents the speed of light in a vacuum, which is a very large number. When you square it, it becomes much bigger. Multiplying the mass lost by that huge number gives an incredible amount of energy, which is what we see in nuclear reactions.

Hope this helps!

-Spencer
Spencer Pasero


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