Chapter 16, Problem 4TC

Rank the following in order of most energy released to least energy released:

$\left(a\right)$ Uranium-235 splitting into 2 equal fragments

$\left(b\right)$ Uranium-235 splitting into 3 equal fragments

$\left(c\right)$ Uranium-235 splitting into 92 equal fragments

To determine

Ranking of the radioactive material by most energy released to least energy released.

Answer to Problem 4TC

The ranking of the 2 equal fragments, 3 equal fragments and 92 equal fragments of Uranium-238 by most energy released to least energy released is (c), (b), (a).

Explanation of Solution

If a single piece of radioactive material available for nuclear fission, then the released neutrons easily escaped from the surface of radioactive material because there is no other atom is present in the vicinity of neutron for further fission and less energy released by the fission of a single atom of radioactive material.

Suppose more pieces are available for fission by neutrons, then more energy is released in the nuclear reaction. The more is the number of fragments, more is the energy released by the nuclear fission of radioactive material.

The energy released due to 92 fragments of Uranium-238 is most and energy released by 2 equal fragments is the least. The energy released by 3 equal fragments of Uranium-238 is greater than 2 equal fragments but less than the 92 equal fragments of Uranium-238.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the ranking of the 2 equal fragments, 3 equal fragments and 92 equal fragments of Uranium-238 by most energy released to least energy released is (c), (b), (a).