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PRACTICE / Nuclear fission

Compare complete rest masses in a fission channel

A stated fission channel has total initial rest mass 236.050 u, including the incident neutron, and summed final rest mass 235.850 u, including all emitted neutrons. Use 1 u·c² = 930 MeV.

What energy is released in this channel?

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • Initial total rest mass = 236.050 u
  • Final total rest mass = 235.850 u
  • 1 u·c² = 930 MeV
  • 1 MeV = 1.6×10⁻¹³ J

Model channel with all particle rest masses included consistently. The totals are supplied model values, not an isotope mass-table claim; energy and momentum are conserved.

  1. A930 MeV930\ \mathrm{MeV}
  2. B0 MeV0\ \mathrm{MeV}
  3. C186 MeV186\ \mathrm{MeV}
  4. D−186 MeV-186\ \mathrm{MeV}

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