How much energy, in \text{MeV}, is released when a nuclear fission process results in a ma… — JAMB UTME

How much energy, in $\text{MeV}$ , is released when a nuclear fission process results in a mass defect of $0.05 \text{ u}$ ? (Take $1 \text{ u} = 931.5 \text{ MeV}$ )

Answer: 46.575 MeV

Answer

46.575 MeV

The total energy released in a nuclear fission reaction is found by multiplying the mass defect by the energy equivalent of 1 atomic mass unit. Multiplying

0.05 \text{ u}

931.5 \text{ MeV/u}

gives

46.575 \text{ MeV}

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the mass defect and the mass-to-energy conversion factor.

Mass defect

\Delta m = 0.05 \text{ u}

, and

1 \text{ u} = 931.5 \text{ MeV}

In nuclear fission, mass lost during the reaction is converted directly into energy according to Einstein's mass-energy equivalence principle.

Calculate the total energy released.

E = 0.05 \text{ u} \times 931.5 \text{ MeV/u} = 46.575 \text{ MeV}

Multiplying the mass defect in atomic mass units by

931.5 \text{ MeV/u}

gives the total released energy in

\text{MeV}

Key Concept

Mass-Energy Conversion in Nuclear Reactions

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