In the first step of nuclear fission, a U-235 atom absorbs a neutron and becomes U-236 before becoming unstable and breaking into two smaller atoms and emitting various energies and particles. The mass of the U-235 is 235 amu and the mass of the neutron is 1.0 amu. If the uranium atom is moving to the right at 12,000 m/s and the neutron is moving to the left at 45,000 m/s before the collision, what will the velocity of the U-236 be immediately after the collision?

asked by mssailormouth

5 years ago

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1 answer

momentum is conserved

(235 * 12000) - (1 * 45000) = 236 * v

answered by R_scott

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Question

In the first step of nuclear fission, a U-235 atom absorbs a neutron and becomes U-236 before becoming unstable and breaking into two smaller atoms and emitting various energies and particles. The mass of the U-235 is 235 amu and the mass of the neutron is 1.0 amu. If the uranium atom is moving to the right at 12,000 m/s and the neutron is moving to the left at 45,000 m/s before the collision, what will the velocity of the U-236 be immediately after the collision?

1 answer

momentum is conserved

(235 * 12000) - (1 * 45000) = 236 * v

Ask a New Question or answer this question.

R_scott · Answer

momentum is conserved (235 * 12000) - (1 * 45000) = 236 * v