Nuclear energy and reactor types
Energy and environment · Physics
Study notes
Calculate the energy released from fission of 1 kg of Uranium-235. Given: Energy released per fission = 200 MeV. 1 MeV = 1.6 x 10^-13 Joules. Molar mass of U-235 = 235 g/mol. Avogadro's number = 6.022 x 10^23 atoms/mol. Step 1: Convert mass to moles. 1000 g / 235 g/mol = 4.255 moles. Step 2: Calculate total atoms. 4.255 moles * 6.022 x 10^23 atoms/mol = 2.562 x 10^24 atoms. Step 3: Calculate energy in MeV. 2.562 x 10^24 atoms * 200 MeV/atom = 5.124 x 10^26 MeV. Step 4: Convert MeV to Joules. 5.124 x 10^26 MeV * 1.6 x 10^-13 J/MeV = 8.198 x 10^13 Joules. This is equivalent to burning about 2700 tons of coal.