The New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006, spent 9.5 yr on its journey to Pluto. The spacecraft generates electric power from the heat produced by the decay of 238 Pu, which has a half-life of 88 yr. Each decay emits an alpha particle with an energy of 5.6 MeV. New Horizons was launched with 10 kg of plutonium. Part B How much thermal power was generated by the plutonium when the spacecraft reached Pluto? Express your answer with the appropriate units. HÅ P ? P9.57.0195 104 ● W Submit Previous Answers Request Answer X Incorrect: Try Again: 7 attempts
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is a type of nuclear reaction. In nuclear fusion, two or more than two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus. During this process, an enormous amount of energy is released. This energy is called nuclear energy. Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the sun and stars.
Fusion Bomb
A fusion bomb is also known as a thermonuclear bomb or hydrogen bomb which releases a large amount of explosive energy during a nuclear chain reaction when the lighter nuclei in it, combine to form heavier nuclei, and a large amount of radiation is released. It is an uncontrolled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction where isotopes of hydrogen combine under very high temperature to form helium. They work on the principle of operation of atomic fusion. The isotopes of Hydrogen are deuterium and tritium, where they combine their masses and have greater mass than the product nuclei, get heated at high temperatures, and releases energy.
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