Module 1 energy problems 2023

Problems for Module 1, Physics 1
1) Given the rest masses of nuclei: mU-235 = 235.043924 u, mSr-88 = 87.905618 u,
mXe-136 = 135.907215 u and mn = 1.008665 u, find the energy released in the following reaction:
235
92

U + n ==>

88
38

Sr +

136
54

Xe + 12n + ∆E

Ans.: 126.196 MeV
2) Given the rest masses of nuclei: mD = 2.014102 u, mH = 1.007825 u, and mHe-3 = 3.016029 u,
find the energy released in the following reaction:
2
1

D + 11 H ==> 32 He + ∆E

Ans.: 5.494 MeV
3) What are fossil fuels? Give briefly problems associated with their using.
4) What is the greenhouse effect? How does the using of the fossil fuels contribute to this effect?
5) Use Figure 3 in the textbook, describe how a thermionic engine (thermionic converter) works.
What is the role of the thermionic engine in transforming energy?

6) What is the reason for the fact that electric energy is a secondary energy source? Describe
how alternating current (AC) electricity is generated and how it is dispatched to consumers who are far
from the power plant (use Figure 5 in the textbook).
7) What is a nuclear fission? Describe how a self-sustaining chain reaction can occur and how to
get energy form nuclear fissions.
8) What is a nuclear fusion? What are requirements for nuclear fusion? Why is hydrogen the
main fuel for nuclear fusions?
9) What is the solar energy? Give some applications of solar technology.
10) What is the wind energy? How can people harness this energy?
11) What is the hydroelectric energy? Describe how a typical hydroelectric power plant operates
(use Figure 12 in the textbook).
12) What is the biomass energy? Describe how biomass energy is obtained. What
environmental benefits does biomass energy have?
13) Describe the operation of a fuel cell. Why are fuel cells versatile?
14) Calculate the binding energy (in MeV) of an alpha particle using the following information:
rest mass of a proton = 1.0076 u, of a neutron = 1.0090 u and of an alpha particle = 4.0028 u.
Ans.: 28.32 MeV
15) The α decay of 239Pu is given by the following reaction: 23994Pu → 23592U + 42He.
Find the energy emitted in this decay. Given mPu-239 = 239.052157 u, mU-235 = 235.043924 u,
mHe-4 = mα = 4.002602 u and 1uc2 = 931.5 MeV. Is this reaction endothermic or exothermic? Ans: 5.25
MeV; ∆E > 0: exothermic
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