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How do fission generate energy?

Can someone explain how fission create energy because of the binding energy. I know fusion create energy due to the mas defect and the mass is used in the e=mc squared but how do fission work then. Surely it will gain mass after fission because it is breaking bonds. I know fission create heat in the nuclear power plant.
It's because of the binding energy per nucleon. Nuclei larger than iron have lower binding energy per nucleon. In fission because the daughter nuclei are smaller you gain binding energy per nucleon and since you have nearly the same number of nucleons (some are released as just neutrons alongside the daughter nuclei) you gain more total binding energy.
Original post by John doe123543
Can someone explain how fission create energy because of the binding energy. I know fusion create energy due to the mas defect and the mass is used in the e=mc squared but how do fission work then. Surely it will gain mass after fission because it is breaking bonds. I know fission create heat in the nuclear power plant.


Initial mass is greater than final mass e= mc^2

final binding energy is greater than initial binding energy
Thx for replying

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