Question

question 11 of 28 which description of energy changes in nuclear reactions is correct? a. fission and fusion have similar consequences in terms of both nuclear stability and mass - energy conversion. b. fission and fusion have opposite consequences in terms of mass - energy conversion, but similar consequences in terms of nuclear stability. c. fission and fusion have opposite consequences in terms of both nuclear stability and mass - energy conversion. d. fission and fusion have similar consequences in terms of mass - energy conversion, but opposite consequences in terms of nuclear stability.

Explanation:

In both fission and fusion, mass is converted into energy according to Einstein's $E = mc^{2}$, so they have similar mass - energy conversion aspects. Fission breaks a large nucleus into smaller ones and fusion combines small nuclei into a larger one, but both processes lead to more stable nuclei. For example, uranium - 235 fissions to form more stable daughter nuclei and hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium which is more stable. So, they have similar consequences in terms of nuclear stability and mass - energy conversion.

Answer:

A. Fission and fusion have similar consequences in terms of both nuclear stability and mass - energy conversion.