This equations covers Mass-Energy Equivalence within Nuclear Fission & Fusion for GCSE Physics. Revise Nuclear Fission & Fusion in Atomic Structure for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 25 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 4 of 18 in this topic. Use this equations to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 4 of 18
Practice
13 questions
Recall
25 flashcards
🔢 Mass-Energy Equivalence
Mass-Energy Equivalence
E = mc²
Energy (J) = mass (kg) × speed of light² (3 × 10⁸ m/s)²
This equation explains why both fission and fusion release such enormous energy. The "missing mass" (difference between reactant mass and product mass) is called the mass defect, and it is entirely converted to energy.