# Requirements for fission

by mitch_1211
Tags: fission, requirements
 P: 99 So I think, as a rule of thumb that for fission to be possible $\frac{Z^2}{A}$$\geq$47 I want to be able to derive this relationship though.. If a nucleus deforms into an ellipsoid, its surface area can be described by 4$\pi$R2(1+$\frac{2}{5}$$\epsilon^2$ + ...) call this X And its Coulomb energy can be described as $\frac{3Z^2}{20\pi\epsilon_0R}$(1-$\frac{1}{5}$$\epsilon^2$ + ...) call this Y And so ΔBE = X-Y For fission to occur set ΔBE ≤ 0 Once I've done all this I'm not sure how to get ΔBE in terms of A and Z only. I know R = r0A1/3 thanks
 P: 99 I should mention that $\epsilon$ is an arbitrary deformation parameter associated with the ellipsoid and can be factored out
 Mentor P: 9,655 You can use that formula for R and solve for ##\frac{\partial (X-Y)}{\partial \epsilon}=0##. I would expect that this overestimates the required Z^2/A - if that derivative is negative, the nucleus should not form at all or decay within less than a femtosecond.

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