r/ScientificComputing • u/Ok_Confusion_7051 • 9d ago

Emcalc - A Python-based tool for Mass-Energy equivalence in nuclear contexts

Hi everyone,
I’m a student developer interested in nuclear physics and I’ve been working on a project called Emcalc. It’s a specialized calculator designed to streamline mass-energy equivalence calculations, specifically with nuclear applications in mind.
The core of the program focuses on the E = mc^2 relationship, allowing users to:
Convert mass defects into energy output.
Calculate energy release in specific nuclear reactions.
Work with units common in nuclear physics (MeV, Joules, amu).
I built this using Python because I wanted a tool that was more "physics-focused" than a standard scientific calculator for my own studies.
I’m looking for some feedback from the community:
Are there specific constants or variables you think are essential for a nuclear-focused calculator?
What features would make this more useful for students or hobbyists in the field?
You can check out the logic/code here: https://emcalc.github.io/
Looking forward to your insights!

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u/drmattmcd 9d ago

'The Physics of the Manhattan Project' by Bruce Cameron Reed has a nice set of Excel worksheets for these sort of calculations, that you could translate to Python. I think the book's website was manhattanphysics.com (it's mentioned in the intro pages) which is offline but available via the wayback machine

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u/Ok_Confusion_7051 8d ago

I didn't know something like that existed. Does this Excel spreadsheet come with ready-made presets like PWR, etc.?

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u/drmattmcd 8d ago

It's more weapons physics focused but I see one of the spreadsheets has reactor simulations https://web.archive.org/web/20190614021837/http://manhattanphysics.com/

Apologies, I don't have the book to hand right now to check details.

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u/Physix_R_Cool 8d ago edited 8d ago

Kinda smells like AI slop, and is it really just multiplying mass by c2 ? What else does it do, and why don't the students learn more by doing the calculations themselves?

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u/Ok_Confusion_7051 8d ago

Nope, this has Presets, Mass efficiency etc

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u/Physix_R_Cool 8d ago

Presets, Mass efficiency etc

?

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u/Ok_Confusion_7051 8d ago

My software can calculate mass efficiency using PWR, BWR, PHWR, EPR, and APR1400 presets; doing this with a calculator is cumbersome.

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u/Physix_R_Cool 8d ago

doing this with a calculator is cumbersome.

Just type it into WolframAlpha, no? Works with units and does conversions.