1. What is Mass Deficiency?

Definition: Mass deficiency (Δm) is the difference between the initial mass and final mass of a system, converted to energy equivalent using Einstein's mass-energy equivalence formula.

Purpose: This calculator helps determine the mass converted to energy in nuclear reactions or other processes where mass is not conserved.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \Delta m \) — Mass deficiency (kg)
• \( M_i \) — Initial mass (kg)
• \( M_f \) — Final mass (kg)
• \( c \) — Speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s)

Explanation: The difference between initial and final mass is divided by the square of the speed of light to determine the mass equivalent of the energy released or absorbed.

3. Importance of Mass Deficiency Calculation

Details: Calculating mass deficiency is crucial in nuclear physics, understanding energy release in reactions, and studying binding energies in atomic nuclei.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the initial mass (before reaction), final mass (after reaction), and speed of light (default 3e8 m/s). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the speed of light squared in the equation?
A: This comes from Einstein's E=mc² equation, showing the relationship between mass and energy.

Q2: What's a typical mass deficiency value?
A: For nuclear reactions, mass deficiency is typically very small (on the order of 10^-28 kg) but represents enormous energy.

Q3: When would the mass deficiency be negative?
A: A negative value would indicate the system gained mass, which is theoretically possible but rarely observed in practice.

Q4: How precise are these calculations?
A: Extremely precise, as they follow fundamental physical laws, but depend on accurate measurement of initial and final masses.

Q5: Does this calculator account for relativistic effects?
A: Yes, the formula is derived from special relativity and accounts for mass-energy equivalence.