Simple Potential Energy of an electric force prob

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the kinetic energy of daughter nuclei resulting from the fission of uranium-236, modeled as a uniformly charged sphere. The user correctly identifies the radius of the new nuclei and notes that their initial kinetic energy is zero since they are at rest. The potential energy formula is applied to find the energy when the nuclei are far apart, but the user initially miscalculates the potential energy, leading to an incorrect result. The error is resolved by realizing that the potential energy should be divided by two due to the two daughter nuclei. The final solution confirms the correct approach to the problem.
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Homework Statement


The unstable nucleus uranium-236 can be regarded as a uniformly charged sphere of charge Q = + 92e and radius R = 7.4 \times 10^{ - 15} {\rm m}. In nuclear fission, this can divide into two smaller nuclei, each of {\frac{1}{2}} the charge and {\frac{1}{2}} the volume of the original uranium-236 nucleus. This is one of the reactions that occurred in the nuclear weapon that exploded over Hiroshima, Japan in August 1945. In a simple model for the fission process, immediately after the uranium-236 nucleus has undergone fission the "daughter" nuclei are at rest and just touching. Calculate the kinetic energy that each of the "daughter" nuclei will have when they are very far apart.


Homework Equations



U = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}}\frac{q * q_{0}}{r}

K = 1/2 m v^{2}

U_{1} + K_{1} = K_{2} + U_{2}

The Attempt at a Solution



so I know for a fact because I got the answer correct(online hw) that the radius of the new spheres is 5.90*10^-15 m.
I know that K1 is zero because they are at rest, and I know that U2 is zero because they are "far" apart. So I solve for U1=K2

so for U1 I multiply the charges of +46E as stated in the problem divided by the radius time two, the distance between and then multiply that by the constant value 9*10^9

9*10^{9} \frac{(46*1.6*10^{-19})^{2}}{5.90*10^{-15}*2}

So I get 4.15*10^-11 J which is WRONG according to this computer... what the heck am I doin' wrong
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SOLVED! divide by two!
 
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