How much energy does a fission nuke actually release?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the energy release from nuclear fission, specifically focusing on the application of Einstein's equation E=mc² in this context. Participants explore the amount of energy released during fission reactions, the mass-energy conversion, and the implications of these processes in nuclear explosions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how much energy is released during fission and whether complete mass conversion is necessary for maximum energy release, referencing String Theory.
  • Another participant states that fission converts about 0.1% of the mass of its fuel to energy, providing calculations for energy release from enriched uranium and comparing it to historical nuclear bombs.
  • There is a mention of the energy content of uranium and the estimated yield from the fission of U-235, with specific figures provided for different enrichment levels.
  • A participant raises a question about how energy is stored in atoms and molecules in relation to Einstein's conservation of mass and energy, particularly in the context of fission and chain reactions.
  • Discussion includes the concept that fission products retain 99.9% of the mass of the original uranium nuclei, with a focus on binding energies and nucleon stability.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints regarding the energy release in fission, with some agreeing on the percentage of mass converted to energy while others question the implications of these figures and the nature of energy storage in atoms. The discussion remains unresolved with competing ideas and calculations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions and implications of energy storage in atomic structures, as well as the specifics of energy calculations in different fission scenarios. There are also unresolved questions about the relationship between mass and energy in various nuclear processes.

Mohammad Hunter
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So I was trying to debunk a conspiracy theory involving bombs and I realized that I have a small problem with Einstein's equation: E=mc2
To be honest I haven't really understood how it's used... I mean, how far should the fission go until as much energy as E=mc2 is released?
Does the matter have to completely disappear into the strings of energy the String Theory studies or every time an atom goes through fission, that much energy is released?( For example the same amount of energy is released in fission of 1kg of Mg into Li as in the fission of 2kg of Mg into C)
If it's the first case, how much energy does each kg of 80% enreached uranium actually release in a nuclear explosion?
 
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Fission converts about 0.1% of the mass of its fuel to energy that is released in the explosion. The other 99.9% of the total energy are in the mass of the fission products.
Mohammad Hunter said:
Does the matter have to completely disappear into the strings of energy the String Theory studies
There is no such thing.
Mohammad Hunter said:
( For example the same amount of energy is released in fission of 1kg of Mg into Li as in the fission of 2kg of Mg into C)
Mg=magnesium? Splitting that needs energy, it doesn't release anything.
Mohammad Hunter said:
If it's the first case, how much energy does each kg of 80% enreached uranium actually release in a nuclear explosion?
##9\cdot 10^{16} \frac{J}{kg}## total energy content, 0.1% of 80% of 1 kg are ##7.2\cdot 10^{13} J##, or about 17 kT TNT equivalent.
A more precise calculation leads to 18 kT per kg of pure U-235, or 14.4 kT per kg of 80% enriched uranium.

Little Boy had about 80% enrichment with 64 kg uranium, a bit less than one kg of its U-235 was split in the explosion with an estimated yield of 15 kT.
 
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mfb said:
Fission converts about 0.1% of the mass of its fuel to energy that is released in the explosion. The other 99.9% of the total energy are in the mass of the fission products.There is no such thing.Mg=magnesium? Splitting that needs energy, it doesn't release anything.##9\cdot 10^{16} \frac{J}{kg}## total energy content, 0.1% of 80% of 1 kg are ##7.2\cdot 10^{13} J##, or about 17 kT TNT equivalent.
A more precise calculation leads to 18 kT per kg of pure U-235, or 14.4 kT per kg of 80% enriched uranium.

Little Boy had about 80% enrichment with 64 kg uranium, a bit less than one kg of its U-235 was split in the explosion with an estimated yield of 15 kT.
Thank you for the answer.
I am very sorry I took so long. Somehow I must have forgotten to. :(
Please accept my very late appreciation
 
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How is the energy stored in the molecules and atoms to represent Einstein's conservation of mass and energy equation? Fission of enriched U is only tapping into one atomic energy source and via chain reaction it yields energy representing only 0.1 % of the original mass. Therefore, one would naturally ask, "How, or, in which form is the remaining energy stored in the atoms that have already been utilized but remain as mass?" This question leads to a review of the various forces and energies involved with every atom. Thus, one of my questions is, what is the "mass to energy" equation that is applicable for calculating the energy in joules that is released from a mass in grams in a Coulomb explosion?
 
The fission products, lighter nuclei, have 99.9% of the mass of the uranium nuclei. The total number of protons plus neutrons stays the same, only binding energies change (and some neutrons are converted to protons). The binding energy per nucleon is small compared to the rest energy of a nucleon.
 

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