Question

Assuming that energy released by the fission of a single \[\ce{^235_92U}\] nucleus is 200MeV, calculate the number of fissions per second required to produce 1-watt power.

Answer 1

The fission of a single \[\ce{^235_92U}\] nucleus releases 200 MeV of energy

Energy released in the fission is given by the formula,

E = `"Pt"/"n" => "n"/"t" = "P"/"E"`

E = 200 MeV = 200 x 10⁶ x 1.6 x 10^-19

E = 3.2 x 10^-11 J

`"n"/"t" = "P"/"E" = 1/(3.2 xx 10^-11)`

= 0.3125 x 10¹¹ = 3.125 x 10¹⁰ 

`"n"/"t"` = 3.125 x 10¹⁰