Nuclear Problems
Nuclear Problems
Nuclear Problems
(i) The fission rate of U235 for producing a power of one watt
(ii) Energy released in complete fission of 1 kg of U235
Assume that 200 MeV energy release per fission of uranium nucleus.
Solution:
Energy release per fission of U235 nuclide = 200 MeV = 200 * 1.6 *10^-13 J
3.2*10^-11J
1
Hence, fission rate for producing 1W = = 3.1 *10^10 fission/sec (Ans)
3.2∗10^−11
Solution:
The fission rate for producing 1 W= 3.1 * 10^10 fission/sec (Refer example # 1)
𝟔.𝟔𝟗𝟔∗𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 ∗𝟐𝟑𝟓
Mass of U235 consumed: = =0.2614 kg (Ans)
𝟔.𝟎𝟐∗ 𝟏𝟎^𝟐𝟔
Example 7.3
During a 10-hour run from one station to another, a railway engine develops
an average power of 1200 kW. If the engine is driven by an atomic power
plant of 20% efficiency, how much U235 would be consumed on a single run.?
Each U235 atom on fission release 180 MeV of energy.
Solution:
Energy consumed by engine for single run= 1200 * 10= 12000 kWh (1 kWh= 36*10^5 J)
Since efficiency of power plant is only 20%, so energy required to produce it will be:
𝟒𝟑𝟐∗𝟏𝟎^𝟖 𝐉 𝟒𝟑𝟐∗𝟏𝟎^𝟖 𝐉
= = 216 *10^9 J
𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝟎.𝟐
Energy produced per disintegration of U235 = 180 MeV= 180 * 1.602 * 10^-13 J
So, the number of atoms U235 which must disintegrate for producing 216 *10^9 J is
216 ∗10^9
= 7.5 * 10^21
180 ∗ 1.602 ∗ 10^−13
Ans
Energy release per fission is:
-