Question

Physicists blow stuff up better than anyone else. The figure of merit for blowing stuff up is the fraction of initial rest mass converted into energy in the process. Looking up the necessary data, calculate this fraction for the following processes:
b) nuclear fission: n +
235 2
→ + + 5n    ______________________

c) thermonuclear fusion: + → + n _____________________
d) decay of free neutron: n → p + e^– +       _____________________
e) decay of muon: μ^- → e^- + +       ______________________
f) electron-positron annihilation: e^- + e⁺ → 2γ    _____________________

Answer 1

Given that THINK: The energy released in a chemical reaction is E = delta m c^2 ---(1) Fraction for the chemical reaction is Fraction = E/m --- (2) Here, the energy released is reaction is E in Joules, mass defects is delta m in kg, speed of light is c in m/s, and m is Initial rest mass in kg. RESEARCH: mass defect is the difference of Initial rest mass to be the final mass in a chemical reaction. delta m = Initial rest mass - Final mass \r\n The given nuclear reaction is n +^235_92 U rightarrow^89_36 Kr +^142_56 Ba + 5n The mass defect of the above nuclear reaction is delta m = (mass of n) + (mass of^235_92 U) - (mass of^89_36 Kr) - (mass of^142_56 Ba) - (mass of 5n) Substitute 1.0086649160 for mass of neutron, 235.04392994 for mass of uranium, 91.926156214 for mass of Krypton, 141.9144114 for mass of Barium.