Calculating Time to Reach 100 kW Output from Uranium-235 Fission

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion centers around calculating the time required to achieve a 100 kW output from uranium-235 fission reactions. Participants explore the relationship between the energy released per fission event, the time between generations of fission, and the exponential growth of fission reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the energy output of uranium-235 fission and the necessary number of reactions to reach 100 kW. There are attempts to calculate the number of generations needed through doubling, and some participants express uncertainty about their calculations and the use of logarithms.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the calculations and the potential use of logarithms to simplify the problem. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct number of generations required, with some participants questioning their previous calculations and seeking clarification on the approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the complexity of dealing with large numbers and the potential for miscounting generations in their calculations. There is also a reference to the need for a clearer understanding of logarithms and exponentials in the context of the problem.

whiteshado
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During the fission of an atom of uranium-235, 200 Mev are released. If the average time between generations of fission reaction is 10e-14 seconds and if each fission reaction gives rise to two fissions in the next generation, calculate the time required to go from the first fission to 100 Kw output.

200mev=200000000ev=0.000,000,000,032jouls per sec
1kw=1000joules
31250000000000reactions per second to make 1kw
now my thinking was (long version) 1x2 till i reached 3125000000000000 and took how many x2s it took to reach 3125000000000000 and x taht by 10e-14 but taht didnt work any help is appreaciated
i know its easy (or it should be) i just can't figure it out at the moment
 
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perhaps this question is harder than i think for the great minds that roam these fourms cannot direct me in the correct direction
 
i formula perhaps? maybe a hint like what number it starts with? anything? no? sigh...
 
wow no one could help me with this question?
 
whiteshado said:
During the fission of an atom of uranium-235, 200 Mev are released. If the average time between generations of fission reaction is 10e-14 seconds and if each fission reaction gives rise to two fissions in the next generation, calculate the time required to go from the first fission to 100 Kw output.

200mev=200000000ev=0.000,000,000,032jouls per sec
1kw=1000joules
31250000000000reactions per second to make 1kw
now my thinking was (long version) 1x2 till i reached 3125000000000000 and took how many x2s it took to reach 3125000000000000 and x taht by 10e-14 but taht didnt work any help is appreaciated
i know its easy (or it should be) i just can't figure it out at the moment

All those zeros are too scary for most of us to deal with. Your approach is basically correct, but it would be easy to miscount the number of generations. How many x2s do you think it takes?

Do you know about logarithms and exponentials?
 
yes i know about exponentials (notation correct?) umm i think i got to 45 or something this was yesterday
logarithms i might know about them
3.13e13=1kw 3.13e15=100kw
i can change all the zeros to 3.13e15 if you like and 3.2e-11 there you go
 
whiteshado said:
yes i know about exponentials (notation correct?) umm i think i got to 45 or something this was yesterday
logarithms i might know about them
3.13e13=1kw 3.13e15=100kw
i can change all the zeros to 3.13e15 if you like and 3.2e-11 there you go

Ideally, you would like to use logarithms for this problem, but your approach would work to get the answer to the nearest whole number of generations. 45 generations is way more than the number needed. I agree with your calculation of the number of reactions per second that you need to achieve. To get the number of generations, without using logarithms, you need to start with the initial number of reactions per second and double that until the rate is high enough. You need to check your calculation of the original rate (reactions per second) and the number of doubling generations. If you use logarithms, you can find the number of generations to a fraction instead of a whole number. If you don't know how to do that, and want to, we can return to it after you get the nearest (or better yet, rounded up) whole number correct.
 

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