The sun is powered by nuclear fusion, which involves the conversion of 4 hydrogen nuclei into 1 helium nucleus + the release of energy. the rest mass of a hydrogen nucleus (a proton) is 1.007825 u. the rest mass of a helium nucleus (alpha-particle) is 4.002603 u. how much energy is released for every conversion of 4h into 1 he?

energy released

Explanation:

energy released is determined by using following relation

energy released = mass defect * c^2

mass defect is obtained as

mass defect = mass of reactants - mass of products

mass of reactants = 4* mass of helium

mass of products = Mass of alpha particle

therefore mass defect is

mass defect = 4 * 1.007825 - 4.002603

mass defect = 0.028697 u

hence, energy released = mass defect * c^2

energy released

is mass of proton

energy released