According to the Big Bang model, all of the 12C in the universe was made in stars. One process that occurs in?

Question

According to the Big Bang model, all of the 12C in the universe was made in stars. One process that occurs in older stars is the triple-alpha process in which three alpha particles are turned into 12C. The mass of an alpha particle (an alpha particle is a 4He nucleus) is 6.646477E-27 kg. The mass of 12C is 19.926464E-27 kg. How much energy is released in the triple-alpha process? Give your answer both in pJ and in MeV.

??pJ

??MeV

Answer 1

In the triple-alpha process, three alphas become one Carbon. Multiply the mass of an alpha by three and subtract the mass of one carbon nucleus. Then use the difference in Einstein's equation

E = m c^2

to find the energy released in the triple-alpha process.

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