Physics in the News – Nuclear Fusion

Where does the idea of nuclear fusion come from?

Briefly, it was an hypothesis of Sir Arthur Eddington based on Einstein’s silly formula E = m x c².  Eddington’s argument was that “if c² is a constant, then the above formula would indicate that each kilogram (mass) of any material would contain the same energy as a mass of 1 kilogram travelling at a speed of 9,000,000,000 kilometres/second. ( E = 1kg x 300,000 x 300,000)

This idea is typical of the lack of reality in modern physics.

Nuclear fusion is an attempt to unleash this hypothetical energy.

Now E in the formulae E = m x v²  ( or even Einstein’s E = m x c²) refers to Kinetic Energy which means the energy required to bring a moving object to rest. If the object is not moving then its kinetic energy is zero.

A 1 kilogram(mass) piece of coal or uranium or cheese resting on a bench has no kinetic energy. The coal, uranium and cheese will each have different amounts of ‘energy’ such as calorific or thermal but no kinetic energy, so the use of  of the formulae

Kinetic Energy = mass x velocity², is completely invalid.

Coal and uranium both contain potential energy in the form of atomic stress. I don’t think that cheese does.

Author – Brian Williams.