Question

In fission of one uranium - 235 nucleus, the loss of mass is 0.2 a.m.u.
Calculate the energy released.

Answer 1

Hint: This is the problem of nuclear energy. When one a.m.u. mass of uranium lost then around 931 MeV energy gets lost in the reaction. Use this hypothetical term to calculate the total energy lost during the process.

Complete step by step answer:
According to the fission law of nuclear science, in loss of 1 a.m.u. mass of uranium around 931 Mev energy gets lost. The total energy lost is calculated with the following expression:
Mass defect in nuclear reaction is $ = 0.2$a.m.u.
The energy released in one a.m.u. mass defect is $ = 931$MeV
The mass defect is converted into energy released.
Therefore, the energy released in reaction is given by,
$\begin{array}{l}
E = \left( {0.2} \right) \times \left( {931\;{\rm{MeV}}} \right)\\
 = 186.2\;{\rm{MeV}}
\end{array}$
Therefore, the total energy released during the fission of one uranium - 235 nucleus is 186.2 MeV.

Additional Information:
When fission of uranium 235 atom takes place then in that case it splits into two smaller atoms and at the same instant energy is also released. The neutrons are also released during the same fission. Some of the neutrons also absorbed by the uranium 235 itself and atoms are splitted so that energy is released during the reaction.

Note:
Always keep in mind that total mass defect in fission reaction of uranium 235 gets converted into energy released and mass defect of 1 a.m.u. of uranium released around 931 MeV energy This energy is useful in calculation of rest energy released during the fission process.