Why does splitting an atom create energy? And why is it so much energy?
In: 132
The force that holds component protons and neutrons together – the strong nuclear force – is *very, uh,* strong.
It’s like a bunch of springs between all the components. When the atoms reconfigure, there are extra springs left over and the energy has to go somewhere. It takes the form of atomic kinetic – otherwise known as thermal – energy.
The energy is just bound into the fabric of the fuel and widely distributed, so you get high energy densities across the fuel source, without ridiculously volatile energy boundaries that are qualitatively hard to maintain.
Latest Answers