Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c², and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u
Th: 234.043583 u
U: 238.050786 u

Question

Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c², and the relevant mass values are

Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c<sup>2</sup>, and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u Th: 234.043583 u U: 238.050786 u A) 4.28 MeV B) 3.76 MeV C) 3.18 MeV D) 2.89 MeV E) 5.05 MeV

He: 4.002603 u Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c<sup>2</sup>, and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u Th: 234.043583 u U: 238.050786 u A) 4.28 MeV B) 3.76 MeV C) 3.18 MeV D) 2.89 MeV E) 5.05 MeV

Th: 234.043583 u Uranium-238 decays into thorium-234 plus an alpha particle. How much energy is released in this process? 1 u = 931.494 MeV/c<sup>2</sup>, and the relevant mass values are He: 4.002603 u Th: 234.043583 u U: 238.050786 u A) 4.28 MeV B) 3.76 MeV C) 3.18 MeV D) 2.89 MeV E) 5.05 MeV

U: 238.050786 u

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To calculate the energy released, we need to use the mass difference between the uranium-238 and the thorium-234 plus the alpha particle.

Mass of uranium-238: 238.050786 u 
Mass of thorium-234: 234.043583 u 
Mass of alpha particle (helium-4): 4.002603 u

Mass difference = (238.050786 u) - (234.043583 u + 4.002603 u) 
= 0.0046 u

Using the conversion factor given in the question,

0.0046 u = (0.0046 u) x (931.494 MeV/c^2) 
= 4.28 MeV

Therefore, the correct answer is A) 4.28 MeV.

Uranium-238 Decays into Thorium-234 Plus an Alpha Particle