Chapter 20, Problem 20.62SP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The power output should be determined when the spacecraft reached Pluto if the heat came from the radioactive decay of number of ${}^{238}\text{Pu}$ in the 11 kg of ${}^{238}{\text{PuO}}_{\text{2}}$ fuel onboard.

Concept introduction:

The nuclear reactions are a type of chemical process which leads to the formation of some new nuclei with the emission of certain particles. Usually, alpha or beta particles or gamma rays are emitted as a side product with some new daughter nuclei. The nuclei which show spontaneous decay with time are known as radioactive nuclei. The radioactive decay follows the first-order kinetic and the half-life is inversely proportional to the decay constant of the radioactive decay. The radioactive decay follows the first-order kinetic and the half-life is inversely proportional to the decay constant of the radioactive decay.

$\begin{array}{l}{\text{t}}_{\text{1/2}}\text{ = }\frac{\text{0}\text{.693}}{\text{λ}}\\ \text{here:}\\ {\text{t}}_{\text{1/2}}\text{ = half-life}\\ \text{λ = decay constant}\end{array}$