Answer to Question #280589 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for BIGIRMANA Elie

Question

How much energy (in Joules) will be produced on complete fission of 1 kg of Uranium (235U), considering that only 0.1% of mass is converted into energy.

Answer 1

The mass converted into energy is $m = 1kg\cdot 0.001 = 0.001kg$. Using the energy-mass equivalance, find:

$$E = mc^2$$

where $c = 3\times 10^{8}m/s$ is the speed of light. Thus, obtain:

$$E = 0.001kg\cdot (3\times 10^8m/s)^2 = 9\times 10^{13}J$$

Answer. $9\times 10^{13}J$.