Can Nuclear Fission and Fusion Power a Bicycle?

In summary, it is not possible to create a bike involving nuclear fission and fusion by using any nuclear reactant. The bike would be very expensive and very heavy.
  • #1
rahual
1
0
is it possible to create a bike involving nuclear fission and fusion . by using any nuclear reactant.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Maybe a very big highly radioactive bike,
 
  • #3
You could in principle make use of something like the RTG power sources used by some spacecraft .
This would provide electrical energy sufficient to power a small electric motor.
 
  • #4
rahual said:
is it possible to create a bike involving nuclear fission and fusion . by using any nuclear reactant.

I'm not sure what you're asking. Could you elaborate a little?
 
  • #5
rahual said:
is it possible to create a bike involving nuclear fission and fusion . by using any nuclear reactant.

Assuming you're not trolling, it happens all the time. It takes electrical power to build bikes. Fission powerplants supply some of that power. QED
 
  • #6
rootone said:
You could in principle make use of something like the RTG power sources used by some spacecraft .
This would provide electrical energy sufficient to power a small electric motor.

According to the RTG wiki page 238Pu is the best candidate for an RTG putting out 0.54 watts per gram and needing 2.5mm lead to absorb all radiation. According to the electric bicycle wiki page power requirements are 200-750 watts. So you'd need at least 400 grams of plutonium to power it and that's only for pedal assist, if you want a full on electric motorcycle according to http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/zero-s/specs.php the power requirement is ~40kw, in other words you'll need nearly 75kg of plutonium...
 
  • #7
The bike is definitely going to be a heavy bit of a beast if that's the case.
Might be a bit less heavy than a top of the range Harley-Davidson though.
 
  • #8
Not to mention expensive! It's reported at $4,000 per gram. That's $300 million dollars total. If the bike itself was a copy of the most expensive bike sold (that I can find with a quick google) it would add nothing more than a blip to the total bill.
 

1. What is nuclear fission?

Nuclear fission is a process in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.

2. What is the main difference between nuclear fission and fusion?

Nuclear fission involves the splitting of a heavy nucleus into lighter ones, while nuclear fusion involves the combining of light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus.

3. What is the source of energy in nuclear fission and fusion reactions?

The source of energy in both nuclear fission and fusion is the conversion of mass into energy, according to Einstein's famous equation E=mc².

4. What are the potential applications of nuclear fission and fusion?

Nuclear fission is commonly used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity, while nuclear fusion has the potential to provide a virtually limitless source of clean energy.

5. What are the risks associated with nuclear fission and fusion reactions?

The main risks associated with nuclear fission are the release of radioactive material and the potential for accidents or meltdowns. In nuclear fusion, the main risk is the difficulty of controlling the extremely high temperatures and pressures required for the reaction to occur.

Similar threads

  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
845
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
3
Views
404
Back
Top