Question: Both uranium - 2 3 5 and plutonium - 2 3 9 can undergo fission and are used to make atomic bombs. The uranium -

Both uranium-235 and plutonium-239 can undergo fission and are used to make atomic bombs. The uranium-235 is obtained from natural uranium ore while plutonium is a byproduct of some reactors such as the Canadian Candu reactors. Reactors that produce plutonium that can be used as weapons are called breeder reactors. Plutonium-239 has a half-life of 24 110 years and undergoes alpha and gamma decay.

3. The first nuclear weapon was detonated on July 16, 1945 at Trinity test site in Alamogordo, New Mexico. It used 6.2 kg of plutonium-239 with an explosive power equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT. 

a. Write the decay equation for plutonium-239.

b. Determine the amount of plutonium-239 remaining after 10 000 years, starting with 6.2 kg. 

Step by Step Solution

There are 3 Steps involved in it

1 Expert Approved Answer
Step: 1 Unlock

a Decay Equation for Plutonium239 Plutonium239 undergoes alpha decay transforming into uranium235 th... View full answer

blur-text-image
Question Has Been Solved by an Expert!

Get step-by-step solutions from verified subject matter experts

Step: 2 Unlock
Step: 3 Unlock

Students Have Also Explored These Related Physics Questions!