From the data given in the table of radioactive isotopes below, calculate: (a) the intensity of heat generation (Watts per kilogram) in the bulk Earth (b) the intensity of heat generation in the continental crust (c) the total rate of radiogenic heat production (Watts) in the bulk Earth (d) the total rate of heat generation in the continental crust (e) The mass equivalent of energy is 9 10¹6 joules per kilogram. Calculate the mass per year that is converted into energy by nuclear reactions in the earth. (There are ~3.15 x 107 seconds in a year.) Table of radioactive isotopes Isotope Heat generation microwatt/kg 238 U 235 U 232 Th 40K 94 570 26.6 27.9 Abundance (bulk earth) 0.018 ppm 0.013 ppbe 0.065 ppmb 0.02 ppmb Abundance (continental crust) 0.9 ppmb 6.5 ppbe 3.4 ppmb 1.0 ppmb
From the data given in the table of radioactive isotopes below, calculate: (a) the intensity of heat generation (Watts per kilogram) in the bulk Earth (b) the intensity of heat generation in the continental crust (c) the total rate of radiogenic heat production (Watts) in the bulk Earth (d) the total rate of heat generation in the continental crust (e) The mass equivalent of energy is 9 10¹6 joules per kilogram. Calculate the mass per year that is converted into energy by nuclear reactions in the earth. (There are ~3.15 x 107 seconds in a year.) Table of radioactive isotopes Isotope Heat generation microwatt/kg 238 U 235 U 232 Th 40K 94 570 26.6 27.9 Abundance (bulk earth) 0.018 ppm 0.013 ppbe 0.065 ppmb 0.02 ppmb Abundance (continental crust) 0.9 ppmb 6.5 ppbe 3.4 ppmb 1.0 ppmb
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1LR
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Transcribed Image Text:From the data given in the table of radioactive isotopes below, calculate:
(a) the intensity of heat generation (Watts per kilogram) in the bulk Earth
(b) the intensity of heat generation in the continental crust
(c) the total rate of radiogenic heat production (Watts) in the bulk Earth
(d) the total rate of heat generation in the continental crust
(e) The mass equivalent of energy is 9 x 1016 joules per kilogram. Calculate the mass
per year that is converted into energy by nuclear reactions in the earth. (There are
~ 3.15 x 107 seconds in a year.)
Table of radioactive isotopes
Isotope Heat generation Abundance"
microwatt/kg
Abundance
(bulk earth) (continental crust)
238 U
0.018 ppm
0.013 ppbº
0.065 ppm
0.02 ppmb
0.9 ppm
6.5 ppbº
3.4 ppm
1.0 ppmb
94
235U
232 Th
570
26.6
40K
27.9
"Abundances expressed in mass of element per unit mass of earth
ppm
- parts per million
"ppb - parts per billion
kg.
Note: The whole earth has a mass of 6 x 1024 kg; the continental crust has a mass of 2.25 x 10²2
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