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For a fission reaction, how does the total mass of the fission fragments compare with the mass of the original parent nucleus?

1. It is equal to 1
2. It is greater than 1
3. It is less than 1
4. It varies with the mass of the parent nucleus

Correct answer: It is less than 1

Solution

In fission, part of the mass converts to energy (E = mc^2), so the combined mass of the fragments is less than the parent nucleus; the ratio (fragment mass)/(parent mass) is less than 1.

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