Energy Released in Fission Reaction

In summary, a fission reaction between U(92,235), Zr(40,98), and Te(52,135) releases a mass energy of 183.9 MeV. This is calculated using the equation E = mc^2, with a loss of 3.37E-28 kg in mass. The atomic masses of the isotopes involved are U(92,235) = 235.043923 u, Zr(40,98) = 97.912746 u, Te(52,135) = 134.916450 u, and n = 1.008665 u. The atomic mass unit is equal to 931.5 MeV/c^2 or 1.
  • #1
Ryo124
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0

Homework Statement



A typical fission reaction is
U(92,235) → Zr(40,98) + Te(52,135) + 2 n

The numbers in parentheses are (Z,A) for each isotope; n stands for a neutron.

The atomic masses of the isotopes are: U(92,235) = 235.043923 u; Zr(40,98) = 97.912746 u; Te(52,135) = 134.916450 u; n = 1.008665 u.

How much mass energy is released in the fission reaction? Use this number as typical of fission reactions. (Express the answer in MeV.)

Homework Equations



E = mc^2

(The atomic mass unit is 1 u = 931.5 MeV/c^2 = 1.67 ×10−27 kg where c is the speed of light.)

The Attempt at a Solution



I've calculated the loss of the the reaction to be 3.37E-28 kg, then tried plugging it into E = mc^2, but it did not work.
 
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  • #2
3.37E-28 kg
How did you calculate that?
 
  • #3
Never mind, I did it wrong, I got the correct answer of 183.9 MeV.
 

What is fission reaction?

Fission reaction is a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.

How is energy released in fission reaction?

Energy is released in fission reaction through the conversion of mass into energy, as described by Einstein's famous equation E=mc². The splitting of the heavy nucleus releases some of its mass in the form of energy, which is then harnessed for various purposes.

What factors affect the amount of energy released in a fission reaction?

The amount of energy released in a fission reaction is affected by several factors, including the type of nucleus undergoing fission, the speed at which the reaction occurs, and the presence of other particles like neutrons that can trigger the reaction.

How is the amount of energy released in a fission reaction calculated?

The amount of energy released in a fission reaction can be calculated using the mass defect, which is the difference between the mass of the original nucleus and the combined mass of the resulting nuclei. This mass difference is then multiplied by the speed of light squared to determine the total energy released.

What are some real-life applications of energy released in fission reaction?

The energy released in fission reactions is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity. It is also used in nuclear weapons, and in some medical treatments such as cancer therapy. Research is also being done on using fission reactions to power spacecrafts and provide energy for long-term space missions.

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