In a hypothetical nuclear-fusion reactor, two deuterium nuclei combine or “fuse” to form one helium nucleus. The mass of a deuterium nucleus, expressed in
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- The radioactive element radium (Ra) decays by a process known as alpha decay, in which the nucleus emits a helium nucleus. (These high-speed helium nuclei were named alpha particles when radioactivity was first discovered, long before the identity of the particles was established.) The reaction is 226Ra → 222Rn + 4He, where Rn is the element radon. The accurately measured atomic masses of the three atoms are 226.025, 222.017, and 4.003. How much energy is released in each decay? (The energy released in radioactive decay is what makes nuclear waste “hot.”)arrow_forwardPlutonium-239 is a fissile isotope, which can fission into caesium and yttrium, Cs-138 + Y- 99. The masses of these three isotopes are respectively 239.0522, 137.9110 and 98.9246 amu, and the mass of the neutron is 1.0087 amu. i) Write the equation for this reaction, in the style of the reaction of Question A7. Calculate the energy (in MeV) given off in the reaction. ii)arrow_forwardDuring a nuclear reaction, 1.7 × 10-4 J of energy is released. What is the resulting change in mass of the particles involved? (c = 3.00 × 108 m/s)arrow_forward
- A chain of nuclear reactions in the Sun's core converts four protons into a helium nucleus. (Use 1.67262 ✕ 10−27 kg for the mass of a proton and 6.64466 ✕ 10−27 kg for that of a helium nucleus.) (a) What is the mass difference (in kg) between four protons and a helium nucleus? kg (b) How much energy in MeV is released during the conversion of four protons into a helium nucleus? MeVarrow_forwardThe Sun generates energy by p-p proton-proton chain nuclear fusion. The second step of p-p chain is: 2H + 1H → 3He. The particle masses are 2.0141 u, 1.0078 u, 3.0160 u, for 2H, 1H, 3He, respectively. This step produces _____ MeV of energy.arrow_forwardHow much heat, in joules, does the fusion of four protons undergo nuclear fusion to produce an a- particle and two positrons. The mass of the a-particle is 6.64465x10^-27 kg, the mass of the positron is 9.10939x10-^31 kg, and the mass of 4 protons is 1.67262x10^-27 kg. Report your answer in kJ/molarrow_forward
- The Sun produces energy at a rate of 4.00×1026 W by the fusion of hydrogen. (a) How many kilograms of hydrogen undergo fusion each second? (b) If the Sun is 90.0% hydrogen and half of this can undergo fusion before the Sunchanges character, how long could it produce energy at its current rate? (c) How many kilograms of mass is the Sun losing per second? (d) What fraction of its mass will it have lost in the time found in part (b)?arrow_forwardThe mass of proton is 1.0073 u and that of neutron is 1.0087 u (u = atomic mass unit). The binding energy of He is (Given helium nucleus mass = 4.0015 u) (b) 0.0305 erg (d) 0.061 u (a) 0.0305 J (c) 28.4 MeVarrow_forwardThere is approximately 1034 J of energy available from fusion of hydrogen in the world’s oceans. (a) If 1033 J of this energy were utilized, what would be the decrease in mass of the oceans? Assume that 0.08% of the mass of a water molecule is converted to energy during the fusion of hydrogen. (b) How great a volume of water does this correspond to? (c) Comment on whether this is a significant fraction of the total mass of the oceans.arrow_forward
- Mu mesons are subatomic particles which are created when cosmic rays strike the top of the atmosphere. The travel downward at 99.5% of the speed of light. Mu meson counters were placed at the top and bottom of Mt. Washington, which is 6265 feet (1909.6 m) tall. Mu mesons are unstable particles with a half-life of 1.53 x 106 s. 3. a. How long does it take the mu mesons to go from the top to the bottom of the mountain? How many half-lives is this? 6.40x10 s, 4.18 half-lives If the counter at the top of the mountain detects 560 mu mesons per second, how many should be detected after 4 half-lives? b. ou naz 35 per second MacBook Pro escarrow_forwardThe carbon isotope 14C is used for carbon dating of objects. A 14C nucleus can change into a different kind of element, a neighbor on the periodic table with lower mass, by emitting a beta particle – an electron or positron – plus a neutrino or an anti-neutrino. Consider the scenario where 14C ( mass of 2.34 x 10 -26) decays by emitting an electron and anti neutrino. The electron has a mass of 9.11x 10-31 kg and a speed of 5.5 x107 m/s. While the anti neutrino has a momentum of 8.5x10-24 kg-m/s. If the electron and anti neutrino are emitted at right angles from each other, calculate the recoil speed of the nucleus.arrow_forwardA unique star produces energy by nuclear fusion reactions, in which matter is converted into energy. By measuring the amount of energy we receive from that star, we know that it is producing energy at a rate of 4.8 x 10 26 How many kilograms of matter does this star lose each second?arrow_forward
- Modern PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781111794378Author:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. MoyerPublisher:Cengage LearningUniversity Physics Volume 3PhysicsISBN:9781938168185Author:William Moebs, Jeff SannyPublisher:OpenStax