- everywhere116
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Posted by: Mitochondrion
Posted by: everywhere116
Posted by: tomgaz
Because E=mc^2 - the energy stored in a mass is proportional to its mass, with c^2 being the "exchange rate", if you like. c^2 is a huge number, so you don't need a lot of mass to release a lot of energy.
As to why nukes are so much more powerful than conventional weapons, well, normal weapons rely on chemical reactions which convert a much smaller amount of mass into energy than the nuclear reactions which power nukes.Chemical reactions don't convert any amount of mass to energy. They only convert energy to other forms of energy.
Stored energy in the atoms to kinetic and heat energy.Stored energy in the chemical bonds. You want to start talking about energy stored in the atoms themselves, then your in nuclear physics and reactions.