SFT1023 INTRODUCTION TO RADIATION AND

NUCLEAR PHYSICS
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
ASSIGNMENT 3
Name: VENOSYAH A/P KALITHEVAN
Matric No.: E20191023515
Group: A
 Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Mathematics

University Pendidikan Sultan Idris

Assignment 3

SFT1023

Answer ALL questions

1. a. Complete the following nuclear reaction: 42He + 126 C → 01n + 11H + ?

 42He + 126 C → 01n + 11H + 14

7 N

b. Consider the following reaction:147 N ( d, α ) 126C where 147 N has a mass of 14.003 074u; 126C
has a mass of 12.000 000 u; d has a mass of 2.014 102 u; and 42He has a mass of 4.002 603
u. How much energy is released in this reaction? (Note: 1 u = 931.5 MeV)?
2 14
1 d + 7 N → 126C + 42 He
Q= [ ( M a+ M X )− ( M Y + M b ) ] c 2
Q=( [ ( 2.014 102 u+14.003 074 u )−( 12.000 000 u+ 4.002603 u ) ] ×c 2)× 931.5 MeV
¿ 13.5710235 MeV
2. According to one estimate, the first atomic bomb released an energy equivalent to 20 kilotons of
TNT. If 1 ton of TNT releases about 4.0 x 109 J, how much uranium was lost through fission in
this bomb? (Assume 208 MeV released per fission.)

20 Ea =20 kTNT=20 × 103 J

4.0 x 109 J 1 MeV

Eatomic =20 ×10 3 TNT × [ TNT ][ −13
1.6 ×10 J ]=5.0 ×1026 MeV

Eatomic 5 ×10 26 MeV

n 235U = = =2.4 ×1024 nuclei
MeV MeV
208 208
Nucleus Nucleus

2.4 ×10 24 atoms g 2.4 ×1024 atoms

m=M
[
6.02× 1023
atoms
mol
=235
mol
]
6.02 ×1023
atoms
mol [
=9.4 ×10 2 g
]
3. There are a few nuclear reactions in which the emerging particle and the product nucleus are
identical. One example of this is the reaction 73Li ( p, α ) 42He Calculate the Q value of this reaction.
p+ 73 Li → 42 He + 42He
Q= [ ( M a+ M X )− ( M Y + M b ) ]
Q=( [ ( 1.007825u +7.016004 u )−( 4.002603 u+ 4.002603 u ) ] × c2 )× 931.5 MeV
¿ 17.347325 MeV
4. A particular nuclear fission reaction produces 1.50  102 MeV per fission. How many
fissions per second are required to generate 3.00 x 108 W of power?
1 fission=1.50 102 MeV
1 MeV =1.60 10−13 J
( 1.50 102 MeV ) × ( 1.60 10−13 J )=2.4 × 10−11 J
8 3.00 x 108 W
Generate 3.00 x 10 W =
2.4 × 10−11
¿ 1.3 ×1019 fissions per second

5. A nuclear reaction that uses one nucleus of 236

92 U generates 170 MeV. How much energy (in
Joule) is released when 5.0 kg of this isotope are used?
5.0 kg=5000 g

1mol
mol U =5000 g × =21.18 mol
236 g

6.02 ×1023 atoms 25

no . atoms=21.18 mol × =1.28 ×10 atoms
1mol U −236

25 1.6 ×10−13 J
Total energy released=1.28× 10 atoms ×170 MeV ×
1 MeV

¿ 35 ×1014

6. One example of a nuclear fission reaction involving slowly moving neutrons is

1 235
U → 236 95 139
0 n+ 92 92 U* → 42 Mo + 57 La + 2 10n

What is the total kinetic energy (in eV) of the products of the reaction? The relevant masses
are: 235 95 139 1
92U = 235.043 924 u, 42 Mo = 94.9058 u, 57 La = 138.9061 u, and 0n = 1.0087 u.

Q= [ ( M a+ M X )− ( M Y + M b ) ] c 2
Q=( [ ( 1.0087 u+235.043 924 u )−( 94.9058 u+138.9061u +2 ( 1.0087 u ) ) ] × c 2) ×931.5 MeV
¿ 208.026306 MeV
m
(
K E=|Q| 1+
M )
1.0087 u+235.043 924 u
¿( 208.026306 MeV ) 1+ (
235.043 924 u )
6
¿ 416.9454 × 10 eV
 7. A nuclear reactor continuously generates 150 MW of power through the fissioning of uranium.
Suppose that each fission releases 190 MeV. If one mole of uranium (6.023 x 10 23 nuclei) has a
mass of 0.235 kg, what mass of uranium has undergone fission in a 4.0-day period?

Power generated :150 MW =1.50× 106 J /s

1 fission=190 MeV
86400 s
No nucleus decayed=4 days × (
1 day
¿ )
24
1.71 ×10 atoms
Mass of uranium=235 g × ( )
6.02 ×10 23 atoms
=667.52 g

8. Determine the amount of energy released in the following reaction: 21H + 21H → 42He . Use
the following information for your calculation: 21 H has a mass of 2.014 102 u, 42Hehas a mass
of
4.002 603 u, and 1 u = 931.5 MeV.
Q= [ ( M H + M H ) −( M He ) ] c 2
¿¿
¿ 23.84733 MeV

9. Explain the importance and function of control rods, moderator and shield in the nuclear
reactor?

Components Function & Importance

Control rods It absorbs excess neutrons released during
the fission process. The rod is usually of
boron. It absorbs neutrons instantly and
can be moved in and out of holes in the
reactor core assembly.
Moderator It consists of a material such as graphite
packed around the fuel to slow down the
fast neutrons to thermal speed (2200 m/s).
The fission process produces neutrons of
high velocity which must be slowed down.
The moderator may be graphite, light
water, or heavy water (D2O, deuterium).
The moderator should not absorb the
neutron produced.
Shield The fission results in the emission of α, β,
and ƴ rays. All these are dangerous to
human life. Thus, a nuclear reactor is
enclosed within a biological shield which
reduces the emission passing through it. A
shield of several meters of heavy barite
concrete may be used.
10. Explain how the nuclear reactor produce electricity.

The main job of a reactor is to house and control nuclear fission—a process where atoms split
and release energy. Reactors use uranium for nuclear fuel. The uranium is processed into small
ceramic pellets and stacked together into sealed metal tubes called fuel rods. Typically, more
than 200 of these rods are bundled together to form a fuel assembly. A reactor core is typically
made up of a couple hundred assemblies, depending on power level. Inside the reactor vessel, the
fuel rods are immersed in water which acts as both a coolant and moderator. The moderator
helps slow down the neutrons produced by fission to sustain the chain reaction. Control rods can
then be inserted into the reactor core to reduce the reaction rate or withdrawn to increase it. The
heat created by fission turns the water into steam, which spins a turbine to produce carbon-free
electricity.