When gasoline is burned, it releases 1.3 x 108 J of energy per gallon (3.788 L). Given that the density of gasoline is 737 kg/m3 , express the quantity of energy released in J/g of fuel. (b) During fission, when a neutron is absorbed by a 235 U nucleus, about 200 MeV of energy is released for each nucleus that undergoes fission. Express this quantity in J/g of fuel. (c) In the proton-proton chain that takes place in stars like our sun, the overall fusion reaction can be summarized as six protons fusing to form one 4 He nucleus with two leftover protons and the liberation of 26.7 MeV of energy. The fuel is the six protons. Express the energy produced here in units of J/g of fuel. Notice the huge difference between the two forms of nuclear energy, on the one hand, and the chemical energy from gasoline, on the other. (d) Our sun produces energy at a measured rate of 3.86 x 1026 W. If its mass of 1.99 x 1030 kg were all gasoline, how long could it last before consuming all its fuel?
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.
When gasoline is burned, it releases 1.3 x 108 J of energy per gallon (3.788 L). Given that the density of gasoline is 737 kg/m3 , express the quantity of energy released in J/g of fuel. (b) During fission, when a neutron is absorbed by a 235 U nucleus, about 200 MeV of energy is released for each nucleus that undergoes fission. Express this quantity in J/g of fuel. (c) In the proton-proton chain that takes place in stars like our sun, the overall fusion reaction can be summarized as six protons fusing to form one 4 He nucleus with two leftover protons and the liberation of 26.7 MeV of energy. The fuel is the six protons. Express the energy produced here in units of J/g of fuel. Notice the huge difference between the two forms of nuclear energy, on the one hand, and the chemical energy from gasoline, on the other. (d) Our sun produces energy at a measured rate of 3.86 x 1026 W. If its mass of 1.99 x 1030 kg were all gasoline, how long could it last before consuming all its fuel?
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