The amount of energy that is estimated to be contained in the nucleus of a grain of sand would
A) heat a liter of water in a microwave oven for 5 minutes.
B) provide a year's worth of energy for the United States.
C) equal six dump-truck loads of coal.
D) be the same as one day's hydroelectric energy output of Niagara Falls.
E) equal the gasoline energy needed for a cross-country trip.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nucleus of a grain of sand contains an immense amount of energy, according to the mass-energy equivalence principle (E=mc^2) by Albert Einstein. This principle suggests that even a small amount of mass can be converted into a very large amount of energy. Therefore, the energy contained in the nucleus of a grain of sand could potentially provide a year's worth of energy for a country like the United States, highlighting the vast energy potential of nuclear reactions.

The Amount of Energy That Is Estimated to Be Contained