Question

A heavy nucleus P of mass number 240 and binding energy 7.6 MeV per nucleon splits into two nuclei Q and R of mass number 110 and 130 and binding energy per nucleon 8.5 MeV and 8.4 MeV respectively. Calculate the energy released in the fission.

Answer 1

P       →     Q       +      R

240           110            130 

7.6 MeV    8.5 MeV    8.4 MeV

Binding energy = Binding energy per nucleon × number of nucleons

\(\therefore \ \)Binding energy of P = 240 × 7.6 = 1824 MeV

Binding energy of Q = 110 × 8.5 = 935 MeV

Binding energy of R = 130 × 8.4 = 1092 MeV

Energy released in the fission = (935 + 1092) – 1824 = 203 MeV