How is mass converted and released as energy?

[Polaris417]

How is the mass defect from a nuclear reaction created?
Thanks for the help :)

 

[Grinkle]

Something relatively more complex emits photons and becomes relatively simpler / loses mass in the process.

 

[mfb]

Physics cannot answer "how" questions on a fundamental level.
Mass is "just" a type of energy. One type of energy is converted to a different one.

@Grinkle: fusion is a nuclear reaction as well.

 

[Grinkle]

mfb - good reminder, thanks.

 

[Polaris417]

Physics cannot answer "how" questions on a fundamental level.
Mass is "just" a type of energy. One type of energy is converted to a different one.

@Grinkle: fusion is a nuclear reaction as well.

Thanks you

 

[dipstik]

in regards to mfb's statement about "how" statements:

i thought "why" was the question to shirk away from. i think differentiating "how" from "is" is somewhat semantic. "how" connotes an explanation, whereas "is" is book keeping; so i may venture to say that "how" is epistemological whereas "is" is ontological. but i suppose one may ask "how" ad infinitum just as one can with "why", and there seems to lie the rub.