Burning one metric ton (1000 kg) of coal can yield an energy of 3.30 ×10^10 J . Fission of one n

step 1 All right, so the first thing we do is convert the energy that is obtained from burning 1 ,000 k

Burning one metric ton (1000 kg) of coal can yield an energy...

Burning one metric ton $(1000 \mathrm{kg})$ of coal can yield an energy of $3.30 \times 10^{10} \mathrm{J}$ . Fission of one nucleus of uranium-235 yields an average of approximately 208 MeV. What
mass of uranium produces the same energy as one ton of coal?

Key Concepts

Energy Unit Conversion

This concept involves converting between different units of energy—typically Joules and electronvolts—in order to compare or compute energy values on a consistent basis. In many physics problems, especially in nuclear physics, energies are expressed in electronvolts (or mega?electronvolts) while other systems use Joules. Mastery of conversion factors between these units is essential for accurate calculations.

Nuclear Fission and Reaction Energy

Nuclear fission is a process where a heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy in the process. The energy released per fission event is typically given in units like mega-electronvolts (MeV). Understanding this process and being able to interpret the energy yield from a single reaction is fundamental when comparing the energy density of nuclear fuel to that of conventional fuels.

Scaling Energy Yield from Microscopic to Macroscopic Quantities

This concept involves determining the total energy produced from a large number of individual reactions. It requires calculating how many nuclear events are needed to achieve a specific energy output and then relating that number to macroscopic properties, such as mass, using constants like Avogadro’s number and molar mass. This scale-up approach is critical in linking microscopic reaction energies to real-world fuel consumption figures.

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