- #1
emily081715
- 208
- 4
Homework Statement
A uranium-238 atom can break up into a thorium-234 atom and a particle called an alpha particle, α-4. The numbers indicate the inertias of the atoms and the alpha particle in atomic mass units (1 amu = 1.66 × 10−27 kg). When an uranium atom initially at rest breaks up, the thorium atom is observed to recoil with an x component of velocity of -2.9 × 105 m/s.How much of the uranium atom's internal energy is released in the breakup?
Homework Equations
k=1/2mv^2
The Attempt at a Solution
i assumed that the energy released would come form the amount of kinetic energy of the thorium - the kinetic energy of the alpha particle. this got me and answer of -1.60x 10^-14. i believe that i hit the problem when calculating the mass to use of the atoms except i am unsure if this is even the correct way to approach the question